Jake White in South Africa on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images
The ACT Brumbies and University of Canberra are trying to lure South Africa's top students and athletes to the capital by starting a Jake White scholarship.
And White believes recruiting South Africans could start a production line of rugby talent which could bolster the Wallabies and Springboks in the future.
UC vic-chancellor Stephen Parker is in Durban with White to announce the new program as the Brumbies prepare to take on the Sharks on Sunday morning.
It is aimed at attracting some of the brightest rugby talent in South Africa and luring them to Canberra for study and opportunities to work with White and the Brumbies.
If they're talented enough, White, a Springbok World Cup-winning coach, is keen to see them develop into Brumbies and Wallabies, or return to South Africa to continue their chase their rugby dreams.
"When I first came to Canberra a lot of parents [from South Africa] were asking me where their boys can get opportunities and what are the ways forward," White said.
"This is another door that's open to them and that's fantastic for Canberra and the players from a huge talent pool in South Africa."
White has already recruited junior Springbok Etienne Oosthuizen to his Super Rugby squad and has seven players with African links.
The Jake White scholarship will be made up of:
- A fully funded full-time university degree for up to three years;
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A reimbursement of $1500 for relocating;
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Subsidised campus accomodation with a total of up to $5000 a year; and
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Internship opportunities with the Brumbies.
