Rugby Union

World Cup-winning coach to lead Fiji at 2027 tournament

By Melissa Woods

Oct 13, 2026

South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White has been appointed to lead Fiji into next year's men's tournament in Australia.

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White, who helped the Springboks lift the Webb Ellis trophy in 2007, was announced by the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) on Tuesday after beating a strong field of applicants including Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards.

He replaces Senirusi Seruvakula, who was appointed to the position on an interim basis in April and oversaw the Flying Fijians' mid-year Tests in July, as well as the 2026 Pacific Nations Cup last month.

White coached South Africa from 2004 to 2007 and also steered the ACT Brumbies to the 2013 Super Rugby final.

His international experience includes a technical advisory role with Tonga in 2014 and he has also coached in France and Japan.

With the World Cup starting on October 1, Fiji have been drawn in a pool alongside Spain, Canada and Argentina and will look to improve on their quarter-final showing in 2023 in France, which included a historic win over the Wallabies.

The 62-year-old will also get a chance to face his former team when Fiji take on South Africa in a warm-up match in September on the NSW Central Coast, as the Springboks eye a third consecutive Rugby World Cup title.