Stevens made a winning return to action on Saturday as Bath collected a bonus point victory with a 31-23 success over Harlequins at the Recreation Ground.

The drawback of his trip is that he will be accompanied by his club's head fitness coach, who will put him through his paces in an effort to ensure the England prop is back up to full speed as soon as possible.

Stevens said: "I was dead on my feet but it's great to be back. The club has decided that I will benefit from the trip and a bit of sunshine. It's a chance to build on the match fitness."

Asked if he was thinking about an early return to the England squad, he said: "I wouldn't contemplate me being in the squad - at the moment I'm not fit enough. I'd love to be back and involved but I wouldn't pick me on this performance.

"Personally, it was good to get a hit-out. Our coach Steve Meehan spoke to me before the game and told me just to go out and do the basics and not to worry about being as good as I want to be."

Meehan was certainly impressed by Stevens' comeback performance after surgery which involved reconstruction of his right shoulder.

He said: "From a strength point of view, he was fine. He coped with the collisions although the match fitness is not there but I was impressed with his basic understanding of how we want to play.

"If he is going to figure in the England squad for the Six Nations, it will be in the latter part."