Jake White has been appointed Fiji head coach, tasked with preparing the Pacific nation for next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia. He makes his debut on the Fiji bench against Japan in Tokyo next week, replacing interim coach Senirusi Seruvakula, who stepped in after Mick Byrne's departure in April.
Fiji Rugby Union chair John Sanday was unambiguous about the ambition behind the appointment: "We are not going to Australia simply to make up the numbers. We are going there with a determination to compete and challenge expectations."
White, 62, left the Bulls following their URC final defeat to Leinster last year — his third final loss in five seasons at Leinster Square — and has wasted little time securing a high-profile return to Test rugby. He will relocate to Fiji and embed himself with the Fijian Drua and local club competition to identify talent.
Fiji, ranked 10th in the world, face a Pool C draw alongside Argentina, Canada and Spain. Their 2026 campaign has been difficult — defeats to Wales, England and Scotland in the Nations Championship were followed by a Pacific Nations Cup final loss to Japan last month.
White was candid about the rebuild required. "To be fair about the Fijians, they have lacked a bit of confidence this year," he said. "The theory for me is we want Fiji to play like Fiji but just give them a little bit more structure, a little bit more formation."
He has set a clear benchmark: "I'd like to say we want to have the best-prepared group of players ever to go to a World Cup."