White out of the running

SOUTH AFRICA’S World Cup winning coach, Jake White, pictured, has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Eddie O’Sullivan as Ireland head coach.

White has been rated one of the favourites to succeed O’Sullivan whose six and half year reign ended on Wednesday night.

But sources to the ex-Springbok coach have revealed that White will turn down any approach from the IRFU should Irish officials headhunt the man who led his country to World Cup glory in France last October.

The same sources revealed that White does harbour ambitions of coaching a northern hemisphere side and winning a Grand Slam and a World Cup – but not with Ireland.

The teams that are top of his wish list include England and France. He has already declared an interest the England job should the post become available.

There is growing uncertainty over the Brian Ashton’s position as England head coach despite guiding his country to the 2007 World Cup Final and second place in this year’s Six Nations.

England’s former World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson is in negotiations with the RFU as their Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, tries to bring Johnson on board as England’s new manager.

This may undermine Ashton’s position and force him to resign thus opening the door for White, who has shown a willingness to work beside big personalities in the past. This was shown by his desire to hire Eddie Jones as his consultant for last year’s RWC.

“England is probably one job most international coaches wouldn’t mind taking because it’s a power that can become a huge force,” White said late last year.

“I would really like to stay in international rugby. If England came to me with a proposal to coach them one day, I’d be crazy not to accept it.