{"id":915667,"date":"2026-10-04T09:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T09:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/915667\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T09:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T09:40:09","slug":"ex-springboks-boss-emerges-as-the-favourite-to-land-fiji-job-ahead-of-2027-rugby-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/915667\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Springboks boss emerges as the ‘favourite’ to land Fiji job ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Springboks<\/a> boss Jake White is in the running to take over as Fiji\u2019s head coach, according to reports.<\/p>\n

The Pacific Island nation is in the market for a new head coach after Mick Byrne stepped down in April, with Senirusi Seruvakula taking charge in the interim.<\/p>\n

According to multiple reports, the Fiji<\/a> Rugby Union has received 31 applications for the vacancy and has begun the shortlisting process.<\/p>\n

Jake White set for Test rugby return<\/p>\n

Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland is reportedly one of the 31 to apply for the job, as is White, who has been working as a rugby consultant at Selborne College following his departure from the Bulls last year.<\/p>\n

According to a report by Afrikaans publication Rapport, White<\/a> is one of the leading candidates for the position.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is on their shortlist and is regarded as the favourite. In Fiji, they are already talking about him as the new head coach,\u201d a source told the publication.<\/p>\n

Fiji are set to name Byrne\u2019s successor in the coming days, with the job advert for the position stating that the contract begins on October 5 and runs through to the end of 2027.<\/p>\n

If White is to land the position, it would be his first gig as head coach in international<\/a> rugby since 2007, when he led the Springboks<\/a> to Rugby World Cup glory in France. The ex-Bulls boss has made no secret of his desire to return to Test rugby.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was 40 when I coached South Africa, and before I turned 44, I won the World Cup and had finished coaching them. I haven\u2019t been involved in coaching Test rugby since that time,\u201d he told RugbyPass earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so, when you say, do I want to get back? I still think I have unfinished business at the Test level. It\u2019s like taking Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu out of Test rugby now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTelling him he will never play again when he\u2019s first shown you that he can compete at that level. I coached South Africa, I know how South Africa operates, and I know South Africa is the benchmark.<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know South Africa is probably going to have to get beaten for someone to win the World Cup. You would think that would be a sort of commodity in coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiji are currently ranked 10th in the World Rugby rankings following their defeat to Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final.<\/p>\n

The new head coach of the team is set to take charge of the side ahead of the Nations Championship matches against France, Ireland and Italy in November.<\/p>\n

If White is to land the position, he could go head-to-head with Rassie Erasmus, with the Springboks set to face Fiji in a World Cup warm-up Test in Gosford on 18 September 2027.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0\u2018Let\u2019s play rugby and let\u2019s go and box afterwards\u2019 \u2013 Os du Randt on the three differences between the amateur and professional game<\/a><\/p>\n

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