After a season with the Cell C Sharks, Director of rugby, Jake White, will step down from his role. In his first season at the helm of The Sharks, he achieved immediate results, winning the local conference and eventually ending third in 2014’s Super Rugby tournament.
Jake was also tasked to up skill the young coaches as well as tidy up all rugby structures across the board from our Academy all the way to our senior team. Initially it was thought this would take some time. However being allowed to concentrate on these tasks during the Absa Currie Cup has fast tracked the process and we can happily say our Super Rugby squad is in place and our pre-season plan ready to go. The mentoring role Jake has played to our coaches has been invaluable and the time is right for Jake to free himself up for any international coaching and consulting opportunities. The 2015 RWC is just months away. Jake will also have the opportunity to move back to his home city of Cape Town, which will bring him closer to his family after a number of years away. With this in mind Jake will be free to come back and continue the monitoring of his systems and where appropriate consult to The Sharks.
The Sharks CEO, John Smit, was quoted as saying, “Jake and I have known each other a long time and were very frank in our discussions regarding this Sharks opportunity back in 2013, Jake was excited to implement change as well as be involved with South Africa’s most talented squad but from the outset stated his ambition to be on the international stage again and I was all too happy to have him for however long we could. What he has achieved for us in such a short time is incredible and our staff and players have learned a huge amount.”
White said that although he was leaving Durban sooner than anticipated, he was satisfied that his short-term goals had been achieved, chiefly finishing in the top four of Super Rugby, putting coaching structures in place and aiding coaches development.
"I was offered an exciting challenge in a great rugby city," said White. "I believe we put together some excellent structures under new chief executive John Smit, who was always supportive. I'm closing this chapter in my life as I believe it is the right time to do so. I want to thank and acknowledge The Sharks for my time spent with the team.”
The Sharks wish Jake well and are grateful for the influence he has had this season. We look forward to continued contact in whatever form Jake can afford and will take our time to consider the appropriate coaching structures required.
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