News
Sarries and Toulon vie for White
December 01 2008
South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White is caught between deals on either side of the deep blue sea as reports suggest that both French Top 14 club Toulon and English Premiership outfit Saracens are keen on using his services next year.
White's week long stint as a consultant at the London club came to an end on Sunday with a in a 23-6 victory over Worcester but the South Africa's close friend and Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones has revealed that a deal to bring former Springbok coach back in 2009 is already being drawn up.
Jones will be at White's side on Wednesday as the duo coach the Barbarians against Australia at Wembley.
White will then head to France this week where he will join forces with Tana Umaga at Toulon in another short-term consultancy role. According to South Africa newspaper the Sunday Times White's agent, Craig Livingstone, is currently negotiating a long-term contract with Toulon's millionaire club president Mourad Boudjellal.
Jones, who was White's advisor at during South Africa's victorious World Cup campaign in France last year, confirmed that he was aware of the Toulon offer but hopes his friendship with White will influence his decision and return to England.
White's worked with the English Premiership team's defence paid dividends when they conceding only two penalties to secure their first win in three matches on Sunday.
"Jake is a top coach and a guy I've known a while and I'm confident of getting him back here in January or February," said Jones.
"He came in and wanted us to change one or two things with our defence. He's a good guy to have as a consultant.
"I know Toulon have been calling him so I'll be interested to see if he goes there. He has already sent me five text messages asking 'who coached the defence this week?' so I know he'll be interested in doing it again.
"It was a very good performance from us and I'm really pleased with our whole team, I thought everybody contributed out there and it was important to get a win."
True to form Toulon are trying to lure White to the sunshine of the Mediterranean cost with their cheque book.
"It's true we're meeting, but more than that I cannot say," Livingstone, who travels to France next week, told the newspaper.