Saracens wing Chris Ashton has been cut from Stuart Lancaster’s England squad ahead of next month’s World Cup in this country.

Ashton is the latest member of the Wolf Pack to be dropped from Lancaster’s training squad, which is now down to 39 players ahead of the tournament which begins on September 18.

The Wigan-born player is one of seven players returned to his club after being involved in the preparation with the Red Rose throughout the summer.

Also missing out are Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby) and Marland Yarde (Harlequins).

And speaking to the England Rugby website, head coach Lancaster explained his decisions: “We had a great two-week camp in Denver where the entire squad worked extremely hard and were exceptional in the way they went about the training.

“That has continued this week and competition for places has been very intense.

“It has been difficult to narrow down the squad as everyone has contributed and given their all. But what I have said to those guys who are not coming back in on Sunday is that the door is not closed by any means.

“They are only an injury away and there is a lot of international rugby to be played this season, culminating in a three-Test tour to Australia.”

There are still eight members of Mark McCall’s Premiership title-winning squad involved, including Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Alex Goode, George Kruis, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth.

England face France next Saturday as their preparations for the World Cup step up a notch.