SOUTH AFRICA: Springboks coach Jake White quits after winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup

Record ID: 452565

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Springboks coach Jake White quits after winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup
  • Date: 1st November 2007
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (OCTOBER 31, 2007) (REUTERS) SPRINGBOK COACH JAKE WHITE ADDRESSING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINGBOK COACH JAKE WHITE SAYING: "I'm sad to actually not want to coach the Springboks anymore you know. I'm really disappointed about the way that they treated me. I'm really disappointed about the way they've done the process and I'm not saying that they know that what are they going to do after December, I asked them that two years ago you know, so the reality is I'm just very disappointed by the way that they've gone about making a shortlist and said that I wasn't and didn't apply for the shortlist. Nothing in my contract says I have to apply, I mean I haven't even been reviewed yet." JAKE WHITE ADDRESSING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINGBOK COACH JAKE WHITE SAYING: " I have got a contract that finishes on the 31 December, I will honour that contract as I've always said I would and then I obviously put to rest the fact that any speculation to what happens post 2007 is now understood. There's a process underway to get a new coach and as I said, I wish him all the best because he's probably going to need it." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRINGBOK COACH JAKE WHITE SAYING: "The decision is quite simple. I've been told by SA Rugby I'm not on the shortlist, I didn't apply for the job so therefore it's quite simple, I won't be available next year, my contract ends. I've always said I want to see out my contract and my tenure, I'm going to honour that because I think that's the right way to do it and then as I said, I wish my successor all my very very very best " JAKE WHITE ADDRESSING MEDIA
  • Embargoed: 16th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAD723F3HHHTEA2CNPSG5Q5A4EF
  • Story Text: South Africa's Rugby World Cup winning coach Jake White will stand down as coach when his contract expires at the end of the year.
    Jake White blamed a poor relationship with South Africa's rugby administrators after announcing on Wednesday (October 31) that he will stand down as coach of the world champions when his contract expires at the end of the year.
    White, 43, told a news conference that his final games in charge will be the one-off test against Wales on Nov. 24 and a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Dec. 1. White's four-year tenurewhen his contract expires on Dec. 31.
    The South African Rugby Union announced on Monday that a shortlist of four had been drawn up to succeed White and he had been excluded because he had not re-applied for his job.

    "I'm just very disappointed by the way that they've gone about making a shortlist and said that I wasn't, and didn't, apply for the shortlist. Nothing in my contract says I have to apply, I mean I haven't even been reviewed yet," said White.

    "There's a process underway to get a new coach and as I said, I wish him all the best because he's probably going to need it," he added.
    White, who guided the Springboks to their second World Cup triumph with a 15-6 victory over England in Paris earlier this month, has fought a long-running battle with the union over team selection.
    In November last year he was recalled in the middle of a European tour to face a vote of no confidence and has often described the Springbok job as the toughest in rugby.
    White has been linked with the coaching roles of England, Australia and Wales but said had not applied for any other jobs.
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