I see things differently – rugby isn’t the be-all and end-all, says White after op

JAKE White says he is fighting fit and “can’t wait to get back to work” and take charge of the Bulls for their upcoming United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers.

Since taking charge of the Bulls in 2020, White has had to endure a few battles off the field.

He contracted Covid-19 in late 2020, and said the virus “really did knock me down”, and while lying in bed, he heard how some of his friends and former colleagues – among them former Bok team manager Arthob Petersen – had died.

In October 2021, he fell off his bicycle and broke a collarbone while on a Saturday morning ride in Pretoria, and had to undergo surgery.

In early January, White started feeling unwell while on tour with the Bulls ahead of their URC match against the Dragons in Wales, and was unable to attend the match at Rodney Parade, which they won 29-14.

Upon his return to Pretoria, he had an abdominal operation and was given time off to recover. He is feeling much better now, and will be back with the team for their big URC showdown with the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on February 18 (5.05pm kick-off).

“I see things completely differently now. Rugby is fantastic, and working in professional sport and coaching in a league like the URC is a privilege,” White said in a URC statement this week.

“After this experience, I’m working with a completely different framework on how to motivate players, and how to get balance in life.

“Life experiences like these really make you grow as a coach.”

Having coached for 40 years, White has seen and done it all across the world, from schools rugby at Jeppe in Johannesburg to the Springboks’ 2007 Rugby World Cup glory, and stints with teams in Australia, France, Japan, Tonga and the Sharks in Durban.

He has always been a tough taskmaster, and retains that competitive edge. But following his operation, he feels that he can assist the players off the pitch as well.

“Lying in intensive care with pipes down your throat gives you time to think clearly. Rugby isn’t the be-all and endall, even if you’re as competitive as I am.

“And what that means is I’m going to be very different

as a coach,” White said.

But there’s no doubt White will want to put one over the Stormers again, with the Cape side having won their last four encounters.

The Bulls also want to stay in the race for a home quarter-final and even semi-final. They are currently in fourth position on 40 points after 13 matches.

“Right now, we are seven points ahead of where we were this time last year, and we made the final. And this season, we’ve played more away games than any other team, and that’s in a competition where the win-rate away from home is 25%.

“If you put that all together, we are very much alive in this race. And take it from someone who knows the feeling when I tell you, all we need to be is alive.”