England are considering invitations to play the New Zealand Maori and two additional midweek games in Australia as part of an extended 2010 summer tour.

The midweek matches in Australia would precede England's Tests against the Wallabies, scheduled for June 12 in Perth and a week later in Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

England would then travel to New Zealand to face the Maori, who they last played in the summer of 2003.

England manager Martin Johnson is keen on the idea because he believes it would help his side's development just over a year out from the 2011 World Cup.

The RFU are currently in negotiations with Premier Rugby over the release of players and the potential knock-on effects of a longer tour.