Jake White is back in international rugby, and his next assignment promises to be one of the most compelling of his career: preparing Fiji for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Fiji Rugby confirmed the appointment of the former Springbok coach on 13 October, placing a World Cup winner at the head of a team whose attacking ambition makes them an irresistible proposition. White guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup title. Two decades later, he will pursue another campaign with the Flying Fijians.
Behind the appointment, Craig Livingstone, director of Livingstone Management Group, has revealed his involvement in bringing the parties together.
“Delighted to have played a role in bringing Jake White and Fiji Rugby together,” Livingstone said in a LinkedIn post celebrating the announcement.
“Having worked with Jake for many years, I know the experience, passion and rugby knowledge he brings to the table.”
Livingstone described Fiji as a nation with an incredible rugby heritage and abundant natural talent, highlighting the opportunity for White to contribute with the World Cup approaching.
His comments capture the excitement surrounding the appointment. The more demanding question is how that promise becomes performance.
More Read
White takes over from interim coach Senirusi Seruvakula, who led Fiji through their mid-year Tests and the 2026 Pacific Nations Cup. His coaching career includes taking the Brumbies to the 2013 Super Rugby final, alongside experience in France and Japan.
For Fiji, the central coaching challenge will be creating enough certainty around possession and territory to let their attacking instincts flourish under pressure. World Cup knockout matches punish hesitation. A failed exit or an avoidable penalty can undo an afternoon of adventurous rugby.
That makes the relationship between White and his players crucial. Structure must earn their trust by helping them play better. Systems that slow decisions or discourage initiative would undermine the very qualities that make this partnership exciting.
White has addressed that concern directly.
More Read
“I am not coming to Fiji to change what makes Fijian rugby special,” he said.
His first assignment arrives quickly: Japan in Tokyo on 24 October, followed by November encounters against France, Ireland and Italy. Those matches offer an immediate examination of the team he inherits and the changes he wants to introduce.
The short runway demands clear priorities. Selection must establish combinations quickly, while preparation should concentrate on the moments most likely to decide close Tests. An experienced coach can identify those priorities; progress depends on players understanding and owning them.
Livingstone’s role adds a personal dimension to a significant rugby appointment. His longstanding relationship with White helped connect a coach with unfinished international ambitions to a nation preparing for another opportunity on the global stage.
The attraction is obvious. The outcome remains to be earned.
For White, success will depend on whether his experience gives Fiji greater control when matches tighten. For the Flying Fijians, the prize is a World Cup campaign in which their ambition survives the pressure of the biggest occasions.
