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Jake has no worries over Brumbies

Jake White insists that he feels no guilt about walking out on the Brumbies and taking up a role as the Sharks Director of Rugby.

The World Cup-winning coach had a highly succesful two-year spell in Canberra, taking the Brumbies from the doldrums of Super Rugby to the final this year, before heading back to South Africa where he reunited with former Springbok skipper John Smit who is now CEO of the Sharks.

After being overlooked as Robbie Deans' successor as Wallabies coach in favour of Ewen McKenzie, White claimed that he became 'disillusioned' at the Brumbies.

He told Fairfax media that he had been up front with the Australian team about the reasons for his sudden departure.

"I told (the Brumbies) I was feeling disillusioned with where my career was going in Australia..

 

"And who says I can't coach Australia after the World Cup? I've not turned my back on Australia," he said.

Having made his intentions to return to the international stage clear, White says he does not feel guilty about walking out on the Brumbies.

"I don't feel guilty at all about wanting to chase an international dream, players do it all the time.

 

"I know that in my heart I did my bit and I gave my 100 per cent and there was no malice or skulduggery," he said.

 

"The bottom line is I just wanted to move on. Families allow family members to move on. It happens. A lot of the guys I've spoken to, they all understand why it had to happen," he added.

In White's absence the Brumbies have appointed two caretaker coaches in Laurie Fisher and Stephen Larkham, and he insists that he is looking forward to returning to Canberra when the Sharks play the Brumbies next year.

"I will enjoy it," he said. "I'll catch up with a lot of my friends that I've got in Canberra. It's not like I'm sitting here in trepidation thinking I'm going to have to go back to Canberra," he said.

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