England’s World Cup plans suffered a setback yesterday after Julian White confirmed that he did not want to be part of the squad that defends the Webb Ellis Cup in France for personal reasons. The uncompromising prop’s decision must now place a question mark against his international career.

White joins Ben Cohen in turning his back on Brian Ashton, who yesterday was philosophical about the loss of the Leicester forward who has won 44 caps and who would have been a certainty for the squad that travels to France. “It is a blow but it is his choice,” the head coach, who tried but failed to persuade White to change his mind, said.

The tight-head prop had already been excused travelling to Portugal for warm weather training and has not been with the squad in Bath this week as the countdown to the tournament begins in earnest.

White, 34, told Ashton finally yesterday morning of his choice to put his wife and infant daughter first. White said he could not afford to spend so much time away from home when he was also heavily involved in managing his livestock farm in Leicestershire.

“It has been a very difficult decision to make, but I have decided not to make myself available,” White said. “I feel I cannot commit to the length of time the squad will be away from home.”

However, he has indicated that he was happy to be on standby in the event of an injury crisis. The player won the last of his caps against Wales in the RBS Six Nations Championship. With Phil Vickery the other specialist tight-head already named as captain, his opportunities, as they were in 2003 in Australia, looked limited. Whether that proved a factor only White knows.

Vickery, who like White has a young daughter and comes from a West Country farming background, offered his sympathy and support. He said people who were ready to point fingers at White did not appreciate the whole story. “There are obviously things going on in Julian’s life,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to him but I will be doing so.”

Ashton is left with five prop forwards, Vickery and Matt Stevens at tight-head with the latter also able to cover loose-head, Andrew Sheridan, Kevin Yates and Perry Freshwater. The coach, who remains noncommittal on the number of props he will take, said he would not be calling up a replacement and was in the process of culling the 46-strong training squad. Up to ten players were being told yesterday that their dream of playing the World Cup was over. The names are expected to be revealed today.

One of those will not be Mike Tindall, who Ashton is giving every opportunity to recover full fitness from his broken leg. The Gloucester outside centre, a winner four years ago, rejoined the squad yesterday. Likewise Dan Ward-Smith, who is fighting back from a broken knee cap but whose chances rest on a knife edge. Both players are being assessed on a daily basis before the final cut-off point of August 14, at which time Ashton has to declare his 30-strong hand.

With the tournament closing in on the horizon and with the first of three warm-up internationals taking place on August 4 against Wales at Twickenham, the intensity in training has increased significantly. “Every day is a selection camp,” Ashton said. “We are talking about every moment of every day and the players know it. There are a lot of one-on-one battles being fought at the moment.”

Lawrence Dallaglio should be back in full training next week after minor knee surgery. Tom Rees, his fellow London Wasp, is still on the sidelines with a knee injury he picked up in the Heineken Cup final.