Vickery surprised by White decision

England captain Phil Vickery has admitted his surprise that fellow front-row warrior Julian White will miss the World Cup defence in France.

Leicester prop White, capped 44 times and a Test Lion two years ago, has put his family and a growing farming business before World Cup duty.

Vickery said: "I can't speak for Julian, but I am disappointed myself he's not here because I think he is a great player. From a tight forward play perspective, there is no doubt Julian is one of the very best in world rugby. It's fact. But it is his decision. It is personal to him, and I think you have to respect that."

He added: "I am surprised, personally. It is not something which was known to me. I didn't realise there were going to be issues. At the end of the day, maybe Julian has just made up his own mind what is really important to him. I can only speak hypothetically because I don't know the situation he is in."

White, 34, did not attend England's recent training camp in Portugal, although he has agreed to go on stand-by for the six-week tournament after formally ruling himself out of contesting a World Cup squad place.

Family reasons were also behind Northampton wing Ben Cohen's decision earlier this year to make himself unavailable for France.

White added: "It has been a very difficult decision for me to make, but having discussed it with my family and with (England head coach) Brian Ashton I have decided not to make myself available for selection for the World Cup this year.

"I have a young family, and I also have a farm to manage, and I feel I cannot commit to the length of time the squad will be away from home."

White's withdrawal from the front line strengthens his fellow 34-year-old Kevin Yates' World Cup chances.

Yates, recalled to Test duty after a 10-year absence in South Africa during England's recent tour, now appears to be in a straight fight with Perpignan's New Zealand-born loosehead Perry Freshwater.