Two days after the Bulls’ 29-14 victory against the Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade in the United Rugby Championship on Sunday, 8 January, White was rushed into surgery for a two-hour procedure to save his small intestine.
The former Springboks coach was just discharged from the hospital and has eloquently described how his near-death experience has fundamentally altered his outlook on life and work.
Now confirmed, White has reunited with his players, who have also returned after a two-week holiday. On Thursday morning (09 February 2023), the Bulls gathered at Loftus to prepare for an action-packed finish to the season.
Edgar Rathbone, the chief executive officer of the Bulls, stated that White’s return was a morale booster for everyone at Loftus.
“It is wonderful to see Jake return. Not only are we pleased to have him back where he belongs, but his presence also indicates that he is returned to full health, which is reassuring given the difficult period he endured. His impact on everyone at Loftus is incalculable, and knowing that he is returning gives us all an extra spring in our stride.
“I know he is eager to get back to doing what he loves after what has surely felt like a long time away. We are tremendously fortunate to have a coach of his caliber as a member of the Bulls family, and we are confident that more great things are ahead for us all. “Greetings, Jake!” Rathbone summed up.
The Bulls are preparing for a continuation of their United Rugby Championship campaign as well as their upcoming trip to the round of 16 in the Heineken Champions Cup. On Saturday, February 18 at Loftus, the team will play its debut game against the Stormers.
Recently, White stated that his brush with mortality revived his passion for rugby.
White stated, less than one month after emergency surgery and a week in intensive care to save him from a blood clot that destroyed his small intestine, “I view the world entirely differently now.”
“Rugby is incredible, and working in professional sport and coaching in a league such as the URC is an honor. I’m still motivated to be competitive, and I never want to be in a position where I’m performing my work for its own sake. However, as a result of this experience, I am employing an entirely different framework for motivating players and achieving life balance.
“Life events such as this allow you to develop as a coach. In spite of the fact that the game, technology, and coaching methods have changed significantly in recent years, an experience like this dramatically improves your ability to coach because it enables you to speak differently based on your life experiences.”
JAKE WHITE HAS BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL BULLS SINCE JOINING THE BULLS IN 2020
White makes clear that, while he remains a red-blooded coach with a steely resolve to lead the Bulls to the championship, this abrupt, near-death experience offered him crystal clarity on how to organize his life, which he believes will be of enormous use to the Pretoria-based squad.
“The doctor informed me that the first question I asked upon leaving the operating room was, ‘Did the Stormers win?’” I went in while they were playing Glasgow because I was curious about the consequences for our campaign and to maintain my competitive edge. I will never misplace it.
“However, it also made me wonder, if we had been undefeated that night and I had died on the operating table, would it have made a difference? Would I have felt differently if we had never lost a game during the season?
“Lying in intensive care with tubes in your throat affords you the opportunity to think rationally. This experience has taught me the importance of equilibrium and how rapidly things may change. Rugby is not everything, even if you are as competitive as I am. As a result, my coaching style will be much different.
“I can now speak from experience about how quickly everything may end. I will coach with an emphasis on playing with a smile — and not simply by saying it. I’m going to make this a part of my credo, and I want the players to actually grin because it’s pleasure, a privilege, and an honor to be allowed to participate.
“Now I’m looking forward to returning and continuing to be a rugby enthusiast. This was not always the case. At times, when you are injured or traumatized by the game, you feel terribly depressed. However, this type of circumstance teaches you to maintain the highs and lows in perspective. And to remain authentic.
“I can’t wait to return to work and radiate the excitement I want these guys to experience every weekend.”
»Jake White returns to the Bulls following a near-death encounter«
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