It's understood White paid the Brumbies a six-figure amount in compensation to seek an early release from his contract, clearing his way to join the Durban Sharks as coaching director.

The Brumbies will ramp up their plans this week to find White's replacement when a four-man subcommittee meets for the first time.

The Brumbies' preference is to promote assistants Stephen Larkham or Laurie Fisher and the club is not yet accepting applications to replace White.

But more than 20 hopefuls, including Hill, have contacted the Brumbies to express interest in the top job or an assistant role.

Hill, sacked by the Melbourne Rebels, is keen to return to Canberra to join Larkham and Fisher, who has previously been head coach of the Brumbies.

The players will return for pre-season training on Monday without a coach.

White quit the final two years of his Brumbies contract two weeks ago. The World Cup-winner beamed that it was a ''dream come true'' when he was unveiled as the Sharks' new recruit on Monday night.

White is still refusing to speak to Australian media following his shock exit from Canberra, just two months after leading the Brumbies to the Super Rugby final.

Despite saying he wanted to return to South Africa to be closer to his Cape Town-based sons, he will move to Durban to lead the Sharks.

''It's official, it's fantastic and for me it's a bit of a dream come true,'' White said.

''To get an opportunity to coach a franchise like this and have John [Smit] as a boss, I think it's the envy of a lot of coaches around the world.

''I didn't in my wildest dreams think … that when I was coming back to South Africa for a holiday from Canberra that I'd be sitting in a press conference in South Africa next to John. The Brumbies were good for me and I appreciated the opportunity they gave me to get back into coaching.''

White said he hoped the Brumbies wouldn't ''begrudge me''. But even in his first day with the Sharks, White was not willing to commit unconditionally.

White again emphasised his desire to return to coaching an international team at the World Cup.

''I started here in 2000 and to get back into the Sharks … it's probably a bit more in my comfort zone,'' he said. ''It's a really special time for me to come to the Sharks.

''The one thing John understands is that I really want to coach international rugby again.

''I've played open cards with him and part of that is making this organisation become the best.''

If Larkham or Fisher is appointed head coach, it's likely the Brumbies will recruit a defensive specialist to their coaching ranks.

Hill started his coaching career in Canberra more than a decade ago. He played ACT rugby with Larkham at Wests and was an assistant to Eddie Jones at Suntory in Japan before joining the Rebels.

He was sacked after two seasons at the Rebels.

''We've been approached by in excess of 20 coaches,'' Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said.

''But our focus is on the internal applicants and ensuring there's a full and comprehensive process.''