In a significant boost for the club's future, the Western Force have secured the services of Wallabies veteran Nic White, who will return to Perth in a coaching capacity for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
From the Pitch to the Coaching Box
The 33-year-old scrum-half, who earned 61 caps for Australia, will hang up his boots at the end of the current French club season with Biarritz Olympique. His transition into coaching will see him take on an assistant coach role with the Force, a team he represented with distinction for two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
White's primary focus will be on developing the club's halfbacks and guiding the overall attack strategy. His deep understanding of the game, forged over a professional career spanning 14 years and including stubs with the Brumbies and Exeter Chiefs, is seen as an invaluable asset for the developing squad.
A Homecoming with a Clear Vision
Force head coach Simon Cron expressed his delight at bringing White back into the fold. Cron emphasised that White's recent experience at the highest level of play is precisely what the team needs to drive improvement. White is not just returning as a former player, but as a contemporary thinker on the game, whose insights will be immediately relevant.
"Having someone of Nic's calibre and recent professional experience join our coaching group is fantastic," Cron stated. He highlighted White's potential to mentor the next generation of Force players, particularly the young halves coming through the system.
Building for the Future of Australian Rugby
For Nic White, the move represents a deliberate step into the next phase of his rugby life and a chance to give back to the Australian game. He described his previous time with the Force as enjoyable and expressed eagerness to contribute to the club's culture and success from a new perspective.
The signing is a coup for the Western Force, demonstrating their commitment to attracting high-quality rugby intellect to Western Australia. It signals a clear intent to build a competitive and shrewd football program. White's appointment is expected to be officially confirmed in the coming days, with fans eagerly anticipating the impact he will have alongside Simon Cron and the existing coaching staff.
This strategic move places a seasoned, Test-hardened mind into a key developmental role, aiming to accelerate the growth of the Force's playing roster and enhance their prospects in the tough Super Rugby Pacific competition.