/ 30 October 2007

Little sympathy at SA Rugby for White

There seems to be little sympathy at SA Rugby for World Cup-winning Springbok coach Jake White’s unhappiness that he was not considered for the shortlist of four from which the next Springbok coach will be appointed.

White, in Tuesday’s press conference, pointed out he had a clause in his contract with SA Rugby that states he has the right to negotiate an extension of his contract with SA Rugby once it expires at the end of the year.

His name was, however, not included on the shortlist of the four coaches who seem to have the inside lane to the job.

They are apparently present Springbok assistant coach (backs) Allister Coetzee, former Cats coach Chester Williams, national under-21 coach Peter de Villiers and Blue Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer, although the SA Rugby senior deputy president Mike Stofile would not confirm or deny the names on Tuesday.

However, on White’s chagrin at not being included on the shortlist, South African Rugby Union (Saru) CEO Johan Prinsloo on Tuesday said he did not have White’s contract with him in Johannesburg where he was attending a national indaba on the state and future of the game in the country.

”I haven’t got Jake White’s contract with me. The request to the committee, which was to short list the candidates, was to consider all the applications that had to be in by October 26. They have done that, and Jake’s name was not among them,” he said in reiterating Saru’s statement of Monday.

Mike Stofile, senior deputy president of Saru, on Monday said White had known for some time that the position would be advertised and the closing date for applications was October 26.

”The winning of the World Cup had not changed that situation,” said Stofile, who added he was not necessarily upset that White had disqualified himself by not applying.

He also said there could not be an extension until White has made up his mind about his decision pertaining to the South African coaching position.

White had earlier indicated he needed some time to think about his future — and according to the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) on Tuesday, the Springbok coach has shown interest via his agent in the vacant Wallaby coaching position.

Agence France-Presse on Tuesday reported ARU high-performance manager Pat Howard had confirmed agent Craig Livingstone contacted him on White’s behalf last week but had heard nothing further. According to AFP White has also been linked to the England and Wales coaching positions and has until Friday to apply for the Australian post. — Sapa