The England captain Martin Johnson, who still has to confirm whether he will be carrying on as an England player, will delay his return for Leicester until the Heineken European Cup starts with the game in Paris against Stade Francais the weekend after next.
In contrast, prop Phil Vickery arrives home with England tomorrow anxious to know if he will be in the Gloucester squad for their match against Northampton at the weekend.
Johnson said: "For me it is not a physical thing because the guys at Leicester have played more matches than me over the last couple of months. It is more mental and a matter of switching off for a bit.
"Going from playing in a World Cup final, with its emotional and physical intensity, one week and then facing, with all due respect, Rotherham away the next is difficult to bridge.
"The Heineken Cup starts next month and that is a good way to start back. When you return is an individual decision for every player and some will choose to play for their clubs before others do."
Clive Woodward wants Johnson to lead the team in England's Six Nations Championship opener against Italy in Rome next February, but Johnson is not committing himself.
"I will think things over during the next couple of weeks," he said. "The fact we have just won the World Cup will not make any difference; my career would have been just as enjoyable and fulfilling had we been knocked out in the quarter-final."
Though Vickery has spent the last four months involved in England's successful World Cup campaign, far from wanting a rest he is keen to get back into action for his club.
"Every player in the squad owes his club," said Vickery. "They have allowed us to prepare properly for the World Cup and we have reaped the rewards. Gloucester have been terrific to me and if they want me to play on Saturday or sit on the bench, I will be more than happy to do so.
"Your club is your lifeblood and I have spent a long time away from Kingsholm. I have kept in touch with what has been going on since I have been in Australia and I want to get back into the jersey at the earliest possible opportunity.
"I could ask for a couple of weeks off, but I do not know what good that would do me. I want my place back in the Gloucester team rather than put my feet up."
