English Rugby
White keen on England role
ESPNscrum Staff
January 22, 2011
Barbarians head coach Jake White casts an eye over his side, Barbarians v Australia, Wembley Stadium, London, England, December 3, 2008
Jake White is currently helping the London Irish coaching team © Getty Images
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World Cup-winning South African Jake White has declared his desire to take on the performance director role with the Rugby Football Union.

White is one of the names to have been linked with the newly-created role, with the successful applicant assuming responsibility from national to senior level. And although the 47-year-old has yet to have any sort of discussion with Twickenham chiefs, he is interested in doing so.

"I haven't had any contact from the RFU yet," he told the Daily Mail. "I have made it clear that the performance director position would interest me, but I have to be clear about the job description. It sounds very nice in principle."

White's finest hour in charge of the Springboks came when he guided them to World Cup glory against England in 2007. That was the second successive final England had been to, having beaten Australia in 2003, and the potential of the game in this country is one of the things that excites White about the position.

The former Springbox coach took up a consulting role with London Irish at the beginning of the week as Toby Booth's men looked to end a miserable run of form.

"That is the main reason I am putting my hand up for the job - because I can see that England have so much potential as a rugby country," he said. "Look at their World Cup record; they have played in six tournaments and reached the final three times.

"That sort of record is comparable with Brazil in football. There's no doubt that if the RFU get it right with all the best systems in place, England can be the No.1 rugby nation in the world, consistently."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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