Jake White leads Flying Fijians to victory over Japan

Fiji’s new head coach, Jake White, secured a winning start to his tenure with a 34-28 victory over Japan. White, who has not coached international rugby in 20 years, expressed excitement regarding his return to the role and praised the team’s ability to maintain control during the closing stages of the match.

Beyond the immediate result, White is focused on long-term talent identification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He has called upon villages, chiefs, and island communities to help uncover rugby talent in rural areas, citing former stars like Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Sitiveni Sivivatu as examples of players found outside traditional pathways. White also noted the importance of balancing overseas opportunities with domestic talent development.

The victory provides momentum for the Flying Fijians ahead of a challenging tour in the Nations Championship, which includes upcoming matches against France, Ireland, and Italy.