England in New Zealand 2014
Cowan-Dickie ruled out with knee injury
Tom Hamilton in Auckland
June 9, 2014
Luke Cowan-Dickie is heading back to Exeter © Getty Images
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Luke Cowan-Dickie will leave England's tour of New Zealand and return home due to a knee injury he picked up in training.

Cowan-Dickie was one of four hookers originally brought on the tour with Dylan Hartley joining last week after the culmination of the Aviva Premiership season. After an impressive season for Exeter, there was a school of thought that Cowan-Dickie could be in line for his international debut had Rob Webber failed to regain fitness in time for last Saturday's Test but as it transpired, Webber started and Joe Gray was named on the bench.

Cowan-Dickie would have hoped to have got some game time in England's match against the Crusaders a week on Tuesday but the injury setback he picked up in training has put paid to that.

"It's unfortunate for Luke," Stuart Lancaster said. "He has been great over the last three weeks and I am sure he will have benefitted from being involved in this environment.

"Unfortunately he has not been able to take a full part in training and it's the right thing for him to go back to Exeter and have further assessment. We have four other hookers so we are well covered in that position and we will not be bringing anyone else out."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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