WHITE TAKES OVER BULLS TOP JOB
FORMER Springbok World Cup-winning coach Jake White was confirmed as the new Bulls director of rugby yesterday, taking over from Alan Zondagh, who vacated the post in February.
White joins the Pretoria-based franchise from Japan Top League club Toyota Verblitz and will assume the position with immediate effect until the end of the 2023 World Cup in France.
Reports linking White to the threetime Super Rugby champions had been circulating for weeks. The role becomes White’s second South African franchise top job after holding the same position at the Sharks in 2014 and his third in the competition after spending a year with the Brumbies in 2013.
“We need to rebuild a winning culture at Loftus, and that will no doubt bring the fans back... This won’t be easy but we are up for it,” White said in a statement.
“The Bulls brand has always been a powerhouse in rugby and respected around the world. There’s a great history and heritage here and I’m looking forward to adding my contribution to the Bulls’ legacy. The shareholders, Remgro, Patrice Motsepe and the BBRU (Blue Bulls Rugby Union), together with the staff, have an amazing ambition to not only take the Bulls back to number one but also reinvent and remould rugby in this country.”
White famously led the Springboks to their second Rugby World Cup triumph in 2007 in France, with a team comprising of Bulls legends such as Victor Matfield,
Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana.
He returns to the country with the Boks as the No 1 team in the world after their RWC victory in Japan last year. White said his aim was to help the national team maintain their position atop the rankings.
“It’s no secret that our franchise rugby needs to be strong for the Boks to be strong. I’m looking forward to doing whatever it takes help keep them at number one,” he said.
It is understood that White will not be hands-on with coaching but will drive the overall direction of the franchise and union, while head coach Pote Human will continue the role he’s held since last year.
Under Human, the Bulls made the Super Rugby quarter-finals in 2019 but began 2020 in horrid fashion, losing five of their first six games so far this season.
White’s predecessor Zondagh was in 2018 mandated to reduce the Bulls’ professional contracts from 200 to about 100 players, which saw a slew of talented young players leave their stable.
White will be required to build the talent base back up with some canny acquisitions following the loss of World Cup stars Handre Pollard, Lood de Jager and RG Snyman, to name a few.
Bulls chief executive Alfonso Meyer said: “We are extremely excited with Jake’s decision to join us. His credentials speak for themselves and we know his contributions are only going to improve our rugby across the board.
“Jake’s appointment is yet another step in the right direction as we endeavour to take this brand into a new era. We wish him well in his new role.”
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