All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu has been ruled out of their tour of Britain and Ireland with a knee injury.

Sivivatu, who has played 43 Tests, had only just returned to training after five months out following a shoulder operation.

"It's hugely disappointing for Siti to suffer another injury straight after recovering from his shoulder surgery," New Zealand coach Graham Henry said in a statement.

New Zealand, preparing for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Hong Kong before flying to England, are not callling up a replacement for Sivivatu.

Reuters