Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio is to lead the team on their tour to Argentina later this year.
Coach Clive Woodward said: "I am impressed with his leadership qualities".
Dallaglio scored a try in England's 45-9 win over Italy on Sunday in the Six Nations on his international comeback after 10 months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Lock Martin Johnson, England's skipper, is being rested during the two-test tour of Argentina in June which precedes a one-off test against South Africa.
Back row forward Dallaglio lost the England captaincy in 1999 after a tabloid newspaper alleged he had admitted taking cocaine and ecstasy during the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
Dallaglio later damaged knee ligaments playing for his club last year and aggravated the injury in Australia when on tour with the British and Irish Lions.