Assistant coaches Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher, along with Brumbies officials, will join players in a conference call to outline the club's immediate future.

Players were caught off-guard when White was released from the final two years of his contract with the Brumbies.

Brumbies captain Ben Mowen, in South Africa with the Wallabies, was one of a select few who was made aware of White's imminent departure.

White broke the news to Brumbies players in the Australian squad at dinner in Cape Town on Wednesday night.

The remainder of the playing squad not on international duty are spread around the globe on off-season holidays.

Powerful No.8 Fotu Auelua admitted White's departure had come as a shock. ''It's a massive hole to fill - he's done a lot for the team,'' Auelua said.

''I don't think any of the players or the staff knew about what was going on.''

Larkham and Fisher are now charged with finalising the Brumbies' playing roster for the 2014 season.

There are at least three spots up for grabs and Larkham hoped to have it finalised before pre-season training begins on October 14.

Larkham contacted players on Wednesday and Thursday to allay any concerns they had.

Larkham was confident White's exit would not distract from preparations for 2014.

''There are elements that he brought to the team and organisation that are going to be missed,'' Larkham said.

''But it was going to happen at some stage. We still have the core nucleus of players, myself and Laurie and a good management team.

''We won't get together as a group until January but the focus will be the same.

It is understood no players have get-out clauses in their contracts relating to White staying on as coach.

That ensures the Brumbies retain the bulk of the squad that made this year's Super Rugby grand final.

Auelua said: ''Our standards with Laurie and Bernie won't drop.

''We'll raise the bar again. This might be a minor setback for the players and the Brumbies but we need to understand it's one guy that is leaving and we've got a whole team here.''