White no certainty for Bok job
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:44
Sorry, no job: Jake White waits in the wings
World Cup-winning coach Jake White may have gone public with his desire to return to the Springbok fold as Director of Rugby, but there is no guarantee that he will be offered any position.
White, who won a Tri-Nations crown (in 2004) and the World Cup (last year) during his four-year reign as Bok coach, indicated that he is willing to "help" the Boks in their hour of need.
Under new coach Peter de Villiers the Boks have not only slipped from first to third on the International Rugby Board (IRB) standings, they have now lost four out of their last five matches - including three in a row.
White, who quit coaching at the end of last year after numerous contractual disputes with the notorious President's Council of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), said this week he wants to play a "meaningful" role in SA rugby.
"I want to be director of rugby in South Africa," White told Die Burger newspaper.
White said he is not interested in coaching the Boks again.
"I don't want to be in the limelight and I'm not looking for the pressures that go with it. I've had my turn.
"All I'd like to do is help. That's what I have always wanted to do."
However, there is no guarantee that the President's men would be keen to have White back, considering the manner in which he blasted SA rugby in his book after the World Cup.
SARU President Oregan Hoskins also poured cold water on suggestions that White would be back in the fold soon.
Hoskins told rugby365.com that he has had no discussion with White, or anybody else, in regards to the position of a Director of Rugby at SARU.
The position, Director of Rugby' is on the agenda for discussion at the SARU President's Council meeting in Johannesburg on Friday.
However, it is no given that such a position would even be created.
The "existence" of such a position will be discussed and the President's Council may well decide there is no need for such a position - which will kill off White's hopes of a return.
However, he made sure his name is in the hat if the President's Council do agree to create a position for a Director of Rugby.
By Jan de Koning
