White confirmed he had been approached by Ireland about his interest in the position, but said he had declined an interview and informed the Irish Rugby Football Union that he was not available.

Reports emerged on Friday morning that White and Queensland Reds boss Ewen McKenzie had been interviewed on Thursday night for the vacant Ireland coaching job.

It came just 48 hours out from one of the biggest games of the season, a Brumbies-Reds clash at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

White, who coached South Africa to victory in the 2007 World Cup, even speculated that the Reds may have thrown his name into the media as a distraction for the Brumbies.

''I'm not available [for the Ireland job], I've made it quite clear that I've got a Brumbies contract and I'm here with a job to do,'' White said.

''I'm happy here. I'm coaching boys in Australia and I'm enjoying that.

''I'm really not in the market for every coaching job that pops up. I'm focusing on the Brumbies and making them better and in turn making Australian rugby better, which is one of my briefs as a Super 15 coach in Australia.''

The coaching developments added more intrigue to what looms as one of the most exciting games of the season.

The Brumbies lead the overall Super Rugby ladder and are slightly ahead of the 2011 champion Reds in the Australian conference.

It is believed that Ireland approached White two weeks ago to see if he was interested in being the successor to Declan Kidney.

But when White returned from the Brumbies' trip to New Zealand last week, he ruled himself out of contention.

White has also been floated in Australian Rugby Union circles as a potential Wallabies mentor.

There's no doubt White has a desire to return to international rugby in the future. He has openly admitted that.

But he says his four-year mission to rebuild the Brumbies is his priority and he does not want speculation about his future to distract him from the task at hand.

It is understood Ireland wanted to put White on a shortlist for coaching candidates, with McKenzie and Leinster coach Joe Schmidt also in contention.

White turned down the overtures and informed the Brumbies of the approach to prevent any uncertainty on his commitment to the club.

McKenzie has announced he is stepping down from his position at the end of the season to chase an international coaching job.

McKenzie and White are considered the two major candidates for the Wallabies job should the ARU opt not to renew the contract of incumbent Robbie Deans beyond the end of the year.