Bath prop Nathan Catt added to England touring squad

Nathan Catt

Uncapped Bath prop Nathan Catt has been added to Stuart Lancaster's England's squad for their tour of New Zealand.

Catt, 26, has linked up with the rest of the England party because of coach Lancaster's concerns over the fitness of Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler.

Vunipola has a knee problem while Marler has a slight hip strain.

"We have decided to take Nathan out with us now to ensure he is up to speed with our systems and structures in the lead up to next week," Lancaster said.

Catt has never represented the senior England side but has appeared at Under-20 level and also played for England Saxons.

The 6ft 2in loose-head has played 73 times for Bath since making his debut against Leicester in 2008.

Leicester Tigers prop Fraser Balmain has replaced Catt in the England XV squad for the match against the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on 1 June.

England play their first Test against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on 7 June.

England squad: Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Gray (Harlequins), Dave Ward (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (London Wasps), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Marland Yarde (London Irish), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors) Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)