Aviva Premiership
White linked with Tigers coaching role
ESPN Staff
July 14, 2012
Leicester's Julian White celebrates the win, Leicester v Northampton, Anglo-Welsh Cup Final, Sixways, Worcester, England, March 18, 2012
Julian White called time on his career at the end of last season having shared in the Tigers' Anglo-Welsh Cup success © Getty Images
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Leicester boss Richard Cockerill has hinted that former Tigers and England prop Julian White could return to the club as a part-time scrum coach.

The 39-year-old White retired at the end of last season following an epic 20-year career that included Rugby World Cup glory with England in 2003, British & Irish Lions honours and numerous domestic titles with the Tigers during the best part of a decade at Welford Road.

White is now focusing on running his farm having juggled both careers for many years but insists he would consider a coaching role if the right opportunity arose. Cockerill is convinced that White's 13 years of top-flight experience could prove invaluable as his side prepare for their latest assault on the Premiership crown.

"Whitey has played over 50 times for England and has played in the hardest position on the field," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury. "The only way you learn about playing in that position is by doing it. And to lose the knowledge that Whitey has of doing that would be a shame.

"Whether that is what he wants to do and how much time he may have to do it would be a different matter. He certainly has good knowledge and, as a scrum coach, that knowledge is something that could be tapped into.

"Whitey would get his message over to people well. He did that last year and if there was an opportunity for him to do that somewhere, then it would be a shame to lose that knowledge. At some time, we may tap into that but we will see. It was hard enough getting him here one day a week at times!"

White may have finally turned his back on rugby but his absence from the game may be brief. "I would hate to think I would never be involved in rugby again in one way or another," he said although he is unsure whether he has what it takes to be a coach.

"I would like to (coach) but I am not a great one at putting my name forward," he said. "If someone approached me and asked if I would be interested in helping out part-time, then I would think about it.

"But there are lots of people retiring who are going on to be coaches now - and not everyone of them is going to be good at it. My family and the farm are my priority now but, if I could do something else, I would really enjoy that now that I have retired from playing. We will have to wait and see what comes along."

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