Jake White has committed his future to the Vodacom Bulls and from now on, the team will only get better and better.
That was the promise from the former Springbok coach and current Director of Rugby for the Pretoria team after he extended his contract to the end of 2027.
White said he had found his happy place in Pretoria and now that he had committed, the side would only get “stronger and stronger” going forward.
“I feel it is an alignment that suits me. I’m big on tradition, on old-school values, on creating a bit of a legacy but I think that I’m old enough to know what works and what doesn’t work. It works here – I’ve got a CEO, a president, a board and a group of players – Elrigh Louw, Johan Goosen are both staying,” White said.
“There are other signings that will come out later but if that caliber of player wants to stay, there is no reason not to be part of that. I see the Bulls getting stronger and stronger.
“I know we started well, and the expectation is now that we need to continue to grow. I’m just happy that the board and Edgar are part of that growth process. Having coached around, I know when you get the right mix – and I feel we have the right mix in everything.
“Over Covid I’ve realised how big the Bulls brand is. People are fanatical about the Bulls and I’m happy that I can stay in an organisation like this. I just believe it is going to get stronger and stronger.”
White admitted that a lot of criticism that had come his way over the years was because he was searching for the “perfect job” as he bounced from team to team, but he believes he has found his “perfect fit” at the Bulls.
“To be fair, I have been criticised, but having coached at international level at a very young age, having experienced the highs of winning a World Cup, maybe I chased things and probably in hindsight it is easy, maybe I moved looking for that dream job,” White said.
“But that is maybe why I will stay here, five more years in Pretoria, five more years with this group of players, five more years with this organisation like they are now. There are a group of people above me who have the same vision of continuity. It is working and I’m enjoying it.
“It is fair criticism to say I moved, but I moved to get into a position where I am now. Those learnings I’ve had, have taught me well about what you can and can’t get, and when you get what you’ve got here – a great bunch of players, visionary leadership that wants to win – it is just a perfect fit for me at this point in my life, having known what I’ve known and learnt what I’ve learnt, it is just a perfect fit.”
COACHING AN INTERNATION TEAM A POSSIBILITY
White didn’t want to rule out a chance of coaching internationally again at test level, but said it wasn’t on his mind right now.
“You can never say never. The reality is that I thought I was going to coach international rugby after the World Cup in 2007. Fifteen or so years have gone by and next year is another World Cup, so three or four World Cups have gone by since I coached international rugby.
“I can never say never, but what you can control is the controllables. I’m very fortunate these guys back me. It is a wonderful place to be.
“The squad we have, if we get these guys to commit, if I show them I’m part of it, maybe it will be the reason those players commit and be part of it as well.”
White added that he was excited at the prospect of the squad growing and the exceptional young talent that is coming through, coupled with the vision of the board to become the best was a key factor in him extending his contract.
“When you look at the squad and at guys like Canan (Moodie) and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, even Grobbies (Johan Grobbelaar) who is young, nothing is going to change. One of the things the Bulls have understood well is that we have an incredible domestic league in the Carlton League and an incredible junior system where we win more than we lose. Nothing is changing, we are top of the log again.
“What we have to do is to continue that process. The Board is very happy to extend my contract and that is wonderful – when people want you to come that is a fantastic thing. I saw the chairman of the board at the airport the other day and he was unbelievably happy to understand I wanted to stay at the Bulls.
“And that is like a player when a coach says he wants him to stay on, to be part of this.”