Jake White: 'My intention was pure'
World Cup-winning former Springbok coach Jake White has finally given his side of the now-infamous ‘Selborne letter’ saga.
Selborne College, the prestigious, English-medium public boys’ school in East London, on Friday revealed that the very public spat with White has been settled.
White will resume his responsibilities as the school’s rugby consultant after a fall-out this week.
It all started when a ‘private’ letter from White to the school’s Foundation Trust was leaked and circulated on social media.
White has some rather harsh words about headmaster Andrew Dewar, accusing him of interfering with his and Director of Rugby Derek Page’s roles and deliberately slowing down any processes that involve the school’s rugby programme.
The former Bok coach, 62, offered to ‘step down’ and Page confirmed to @rugby365com that he had followed his counterpart after experiencing similar difficulties.
The school stated on Friday, revealing that the issues between the parties involved have been resolved.
“We take this opportunity to apologise to the greater Selborne community for the unfortunate negativity that has arisen from the email leaked to social media,” the statement reads.
“The School is pleased to confirm that the internal issues have been amicably resolved and that it will continue to work in partnership with Jake White in strengthening and advancing its rugby programme.
“We extend our gratitude to Jake for his continued support and involvement. “
White, in return, told @JanDKrugby that he ‘respects’ Dewar’s authority.
(Continue below ….)
“The headmaster is the person who runs the school,” White said, adding: “I agree with that 100 percent and I respect that too.”
He added that he was really happy to assist Selborne ‘for free, gratis’.
“Why? Because I love rugby,” he said of working without payment.
“I was excited about associating myself with a traditional rugby school.
“Importantly, too, I was asked by a friend. He is a former pupil, former master and a former First team Coach [Phiwe Nomhlomo].”
He added rugby lends itself to ‘friends helping friends’.
“I am like most South Africans. I read the schools’ first team rugby results.
“When my Alma mater is winning first team matches, my school is doing well. It gives us old boys bragging rights. It makes our weekend. Rightly or wrongly.
“I’m an old boy like most, who wants a first team that gets better and better every year. Even if I know it’s highly unlikely.”
He added that in South Africa, rugby in schools is very important.
“It should be the most important investment for a school. It gives the best returns.
” I believe that the first team rugby team are your marketing team. Again, rightly or wrongly. They influence your recruitment, sponsorship, old boy involvement and a lot more.
Successful teams are a must.
“My only objective was to assist Selborne Rugby.
“My intention was pure.”
White said the leaking of the letter, unfortunately, turned a situation that was supposed to be positive into something negative.
“For that, to all Selbornians, I am sincerely sorry.
“My letter was merely to explain that if the headmaster of a school and my old boy philosophy are not aligned, then I’m not your guy.
“Please respect that.
“It’s important to everyone linked to Selborne for Selborne to do well. Now more than ever. Selborne is and will always be a valued school in our country.
“Going forward, I will always be supportive to any of the schools rugby needs. I will definitely not turn my back on them.
“Rugby teaches you that too.”
He said the ‘rules of engagement’ between him and the headmaster would be different, and that everyone would understand that.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
* Related
Selborne College’s final verdict
Inside explosive Selborne fallout
