Jake White has done it all since winning the Rugby World Cup last year.

He’s dabbled in the corporate world, had speaking engagements by the dozen and found God. He’s even fallen in love. Now, he’s about to go back to what he does best. After coaching the Barbarians against Australia at Twickenham this Wednesday, he will head to Toulon for a three-week stint. But the Sunday Times understands that the deal is simply an entrée: eccentric club president Mourad Boudjellal is to meet White’s agent, Craig Livingstone, apparently to thrash out a long-term deal. “It’s true we’re meeting, but more than that I cannot say,” said Livingstone, who travels to France next week. White is frustrated not having a full-time role — he’s done a bit of work for the IRB and has a week-a-month deal with Saracens — and is anxious to get his teeth into a meaty challenge. Toulon offer that. The ambitious Boudjellal, who made his fortune publishing comic books, has assembled an impressive cast of players, but they haven’t been able to win championships. “Even I have my limitations and may still be in certain respects a president of a second division club, who for so long dreamed of gaining promotion,” conceded Boudjellal, who has pumped millions of francs into the club. Tana Umaga is the current coach, but the new deal with White looks like the beginning of the end for the former All Black centre. He won’t go easily: John Connolly was brought in as an advisor earlier this month and lasted just two days before Umaga told him to get lost. White, you can be sure, won’t be quite as soft.

Clinton Van Der Berg

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