French turn to Bok influence

Big-spending French outfit Toulon have turned to South African World Cup winning coach Jake White to boost their fortunes. [more]

French turn to Bok influence

Big-spending French outfit Toulon have turned to South African World Cup winning coach Jake White to boost their fortunes.

Toulon, who are currently struggling to live up to expectations after being promoted to the Top 14 last season, have recruited White in a consultancy role recruiting young South African talent for their academy.

"We will put in place a recruitment strategy to bring young South African players to the Toulon academy," explained Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.

"He [White] would give me the names of promising players that we could recruit. He has also offered to continue helping us with the analysis of team on a periodical basis.”

White is currently coming to the end of his first three-week spell with Toulon and has already made some suggestions as to areas in which they will have to improve if they are to challenge for the French title in the coming years.

"He saw what he wanted to see and made some suggestions," added Boudjellal.

"The training centre is not up to standard for a club that wants to compete at this level. This is not on par with the ambitions that I have for this club. We will work on renovating the facilities.

"Jake White explained to me that in the current the group there are too many players, with many not up to To 14 standard. I will not hesitate to get rid of those that I regard as not up to standard."

White led the Springboks to World Cup glory in October of last year but has since not returned to full-time coaching since leaving his post with his home country. He has, however, enjoyed a consultancy role with former colleague Eddie Jones’ new side Saracens and he will return to England to spend two further weeks with Sarries in January and February 2009.

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