White confirms England approach

BRUMBIES COACH Jake White has confirmed he is considering his options after being approached by the Rugby Football Union about the filling the vacant England job.

Should he be given the position, it would throw a spanner in the works for the Canberra-based side, who last year signed the South African mentor to a four-year deal.

White, who guided the Springboks to Rugby World Cup victory in 2007, said when taking the Brumbies job that he still had desires to coach at international level again.

Reports in England claim he has already been interviewed and offered the job, but White says that is not the case.

White did confirm, however, that he has been sounded out by the RFU about coaching England.

He remains committed to the Brumbies until the end of 2012, regardless of whoever the RFU picks as the next England coach.

The Brumbies have invested heavily in White as far as a long-term strategy for on-field success goes and if he were to leave, they would no doubt be scrambling to find a coach.

“Obviously this is a terrific opportunity for Jake, and one which reflects his status as one of the world’s leading coaches,” says Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan.

“It also speaks volumes about the quality of the rugby program that Jake is putting in place here at the Brumbies and that he should be sounded out for this role.

“That said, Jake is in the first of a four-year contract with the Brumbies, and there are many details that would need to be worked through should he be successful with his application.”