Stevens has won 10 caps for England since June 2004

The injury forced the 23-year-old prop forward to miss England's Six Nations defeats to Scotland and Ireland.

He has also been ruled out of Bath's Heineken Cup semi-final with Biarritz.

"He will be missed by Bath during this crucial time of the season and by ourselves on the tour to Australia," said England coach Andy Robinson.

We hope Matt will be back for the new season Bath coach Brian Ashton

"Matt is an important part of the England squad and made a big contribution during the autumn series and the Six Nations."

His absence leaves Robinson with a paucity of front-row options for the Australia tour.

His other frontline prop, Andrew Sheridan, is likely to miss the rest of the season with a neck problem, while Phil Vickery remains sidelined with a potentially career-ending back injury.

One possible replacement, Perry Freshwater, may not be available if his club side Perpignan reach the French Championship play-offs.

That is likely to mean Julian White, who played in all three Lions Tests in New Zealand last summer and may have been considered for a rest, making the trip.

The likes of Bath pair Duncan Bell and David Flatman, the latter playing again after two injury-ravaged seasons, and Wasps' Tim Payne may come back into the reckoning, along with Leicester veteran Graham Rowntree.