Jake White signals interest in Leinster head coach role

Veteran South African coach Jake White has hinted he could be a candidate to succeed Leo Cullen as head coach of Leinster Rugby, describing the Irish province as "the Barcelona of rugby" and a role akin to an international coaching job. White, the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach, made the comments in an interview following Leinster's announcement earlier this week that Cullen will step down at the end of the 2026-27 season.

White, who left his role with the Bulls after losing the 2025 United Rugby Championship final to Leinster, was asked directly if he would put his name forward for the position. He replied, "Stranger things have happened in rugby, haven't they?" He added that a year ago he would have expected to still be coaching the Bulls, implying his future plans remain open. The 62-year-old is currently working with Selborne College in East London.

In assessing the Leinster job's stature, White drew a direct comparison to elite football. "It's the Barcelona of rugby, Leinster, and it's like coaching an international job," he said. "If you think about it, people say they want to coach an international team, that's as close to getting an international gig by coaching a...