Yates will win his first cap for 10 yearsSaturday, 26 MayVodacom Park, BloemfonteinKick-off: 1400 BSTLive on BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Sport website
England prop Nick Wood joins wing David Strettle in missing the first Test against South Africa on Saturday.
Gloucester's Wood, who was to make his England debut in Bloemfontein, tore a chest muscle in training and will be replaced by Saracens' Kevin Yates.
Strettle, 23, makes way for Iain Balshaw because of a stomach virus that may also rule out centre Andy Farrell and scrum-half Peter Richards.
Saracens' Dan Scarbrough and Bath prop Matt Stevens have joined the squad.

Wood is expected to play no further part in the two-Test tour and is likely to be joined by Strettle, who was hospitalised with the airborne virus on Wednesday.
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was also laid up for 24 hours with the virus but is set to start in Bloemfontein.
The 34-year-old Yates won his last cap against Argentina in 1997 and he breaks John Bentley's England record of nine years and 44 days for the longest wait between caps.
Yates' England career was curtailed when he received a six-month ban for biting the ear of London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn, who required 25 stitches, during a domestic cup game in 1998. Yates has always maintained his innocence.
Scarbrough has flown in from England Saxons duty as cover for Strettle, while South African-born Stevens flew by private jet from Cape Town to provide front-row cover in the wake of Wood's injury.
England doctor Simon Kemp said Strettle had been hospitalised because "his vomiting continued through [Wednesday] and he could not take fluids by mouth".
Strettle, who is reported to have made good progress since being admitted for rehydration and monitoring, has won three caps since breaking into the England side in the 2007 Six Nations.
England head coach Brian Ashton said: "I obviously feel for David as it is his first tour, but Iain is an experienced player and will do a good job for us."
The 27-year-old Balshaw, who was a late call-up to the squad, has won 29 caps since making his debut in 2000.
The injuries and illness are just the latest blow for Ashton, who is already set to field a very under-strength team against the Springboks with about 30 first-choice players missing.
The struggling world champions have not won away from Twickenham for 15 months, while South Africa will go into the match in Bloemfontein on a high after two of their teams fought out the Super 14 final on Saturday.