Jake White: I won’t go through arduous process to be England rugby coach

Jake White has warned England he will not be submitted to the “rigmarole” of an arduous application process for the vacant head coach role.

The Montpellier boss challenged the RFU to install him as their top choice before he considers succeeding Stuart Lancaster as new head coach.

White has twice been spurned at the final hurdle by the RFU, when Martin Johnson took control in 2008 and again when Lancaster was handed the reins in 2012.

The 2007 World Cup-winning coach has now warned England and RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie he will now allow himself to messed around for a third time.

“Everyone in world rugby knows this is one of the prime jobs, in fact even in world sports,” White said.

“If the RFU thinks I am the man for the job and there wasn’t going to be any rigmarole of going through the whole process I have before then I would be a contender.” Lancaster relinquished his head coach role Wednesday, the RFU launching a global search for a new boss with “proven international experience”. No sooner had that recruitment begun, two of the leading contenders distanced themselves from the role.

Eddie Jones and Wayne Smith both claimed they had no interest despite the RFU vowing to break the bank with the cash offer for their new appointment.