DURBAN, South Africa (AP) World Cup-winning coach Jake White has been reunited with his former Springboks captain John Smit after joining the Sharks as new director of rugby.
The Sharks said Monday that White, who left Australia's ACT Brumbies last month to return to his native South Africa, takes over from Brendan Venter at the Durban-based Super Rugby team at the end of this month.
Smit was appointed Sharks chief executive this year and initially recruited Venter, although he said Monday that their agreement was only informal.
White is one of rugby's most sought-after coaches after winning the World Cup with South Africa in 2007. He also turned around the Canberra-based Brumbies in his two years with them, taking them to this year's Super Rugby final before asking to be released from his contract.