Rugby: White steps up at Auckland

Nick White says he's looking forward to the challenges that come with a head coaching position. Photo / Getty Images

Scrummaging guru popular choice to lead campaign for Premiership title.

Nick White is Auckland's new rugby head coach, stepping up from the forwards portfolio to replace the Blues-bound Paul Feeney in a move driven by the need for continuity after a fine ITM Cup season by a young side.

The 41-year-old takes his first head coaching role, but it will be a popular appointment. Since he hung the boots up in 2008 he has immersed himself in a variety of set-piece and forwards assistant roles with the Blues and Auckland, not to mention as an New Zealand Rugby resource coach with teams such as the New Zealand Under 20s. An undemonstrative character, he has proven an astute operator in the dark arts of scrummaging, notwithstanding some of Auckland's issues there late in the last ITM Cup.

White left King's College in 1991 where he was a useful left-arm medium pacer who bagged more than his share of wickets for the First XI. But he was also in the First XV, from where he launched his career as a solid prop capable of playing either side of the scrum. The last of his 84 games for Auckland came in the poor 2008 season, where they placed 11th, but he can look back on NPC titles in 2002-03, 2005 and 2007, plus a Super title with the Blues in 2003.

It is not widely known that he was a goal-kicking prop, following the likes of Steve Watt in the 1970s, and landed a final goal as his Waitemata club won the 2003 Gallaher Shield.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time coaching within the Auckland set up ... and am looking forward to the challenges that come with being a head coach," said White, who yesterday was tied up with his other job, as scrum coach for the Blues.

In his advantage is the fact that he knows most of the players in the region, and club stakeholders will hope he holds true to outgoing coach Paul Feeney's dictum of rewarding club form for the most part.

"There was a lot of traction made in 2015 and we thought it was important to provide continuity if we are to take the next step and win the Premiership," said Auckland Rugby Union chief executive Andy Dalton.

"Nick is well respected ... and we know the high standards set for Auckland from our rugby stakeholders, and believe he is the right fit to take this team forward."

White's assistants are yet to be finalised, but options include 2015 technical adviser and former North Harbour coach Allan Pollock. Two others who made the short list for head coach were former All Blacks No 10 and Blues and Auckland favourite Carlos Spencer, and current coach development manager Bevan Cadwallader, a former Nelson Bays centre. There had been loose talk of Spencer joining the Blues some months ago after a stint coaching in South Africa.

Nick White

• Age: 41

• Nickname: Skinny

• Playing career: Auckland 84 games (2000-08), Northland 36 games (1996-99), New Zealand A 2000, Blues/Crusaders/Highlanders 40 games (1999-2008)

• Coaching career: Blues skills coach 2009, Blues Development XV coach 2010-12, Blues scrum coach 2010-16, Auckland assistant coach 2012-15, NZRU resource coach 2010-15