The Western Force’s new Wallabies recruit Nic White is excited about what’s building out west and is driven to continue to grow his own game under Simon Cron’s leadership.
The 33-year-old scrum-half, who has joined the Force on a two-year deal from the Brumbies, linked up with his new teammates for the first time this week in pre-season after a post-World Cup break.
White has a decorated history, including winning titles in previous stints with Montpellier (France), Exeter (England) and the Brumbies and he’s excited about joining a Force program led by GM of Rugby Matt Hodgson and head coach Simon Cron.
“It’s what Hodgo and Crono are building here which excites me,” White said. “It’s a young group, the program here is really good. I’m excited about what we can do.
“I’m also excited for what it can give to me. I still want to continue to grow my game, get better and I feel like this is the right place to do that. Give me a kick later in my career.
“I’m certainly not holding back at the moment. It’s very exciting what we can do as a group.”
White is also enjoying the competition for spots, not only at scrum-half alongside fellow Wallaby Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and ex-Force captain Ian Prior, but across the board.
“It’s in my position but I think it is across the whole squad,” White said. “I think that’s something the boys have spoken about, the depth that’s potentially been lacking in the last couple of years, there’s plenty of it here at the moment, certainly in my position and a few others.
“That’s what you’re going to need to go deep in the Super Rugby competition. That all sounds good. There’s a lot of hard work to be done before we get to that stage.
“For now, I’m just enjoying pre-season. I haven’t been able to rip into a pre-season for a while. It’s a good chance to put in a lot of hard work. There’s certainly plenty of that going on.”
White enjoyed a holiday with wife Melissa and their three boys Leo, Sonny and Vincent in Greece after the World Cup, before returning to Canberra. He’ll be joined in Perth by the rest of his young family, including their two French bulldogs, in January.
The experienced Wallabies half-back explained the reasons behind his move to Perth, with family an obvious factor along with the draw of an exciting program.
“I’ve been overseas, been to France and England and I really didn’t want to go overseas again with a young family,” he said. “When the opportunity came up to come to the Force, I jumped at it.
“It was too good to not come to. What Hodgo and Crono are building here excited me. Everyone I spoke to, within rugby and outside rugby, it all sounded too good to say no to. It was all positive.
“It made the decision really easy. I’m looking forward to the next two years and seeing what we can do.”
White, who has twice previously been nominated for the Sports Dad of the Year award, was glowing about his initial impressions of Perth which he said would suit his family.
“Family means a lot to me,” he said. “It was a huge part of the move to be able to bring the family to a place like this.
“Got here on the weekend, blown away by this place, the people, how accommodating it is, how active it is, the beautiful weather. It’s a huge part of why I play the game.
“I tell my wife she’s got four boys including me, as it’s a pretty energetic house. This place is going to suit them to a tee on the weekends.”
Become a Force member today. The Force open their 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season on Friday 23 February 7pm against the Hurricanes at HBF Park.
The newly released 2024 Force playing jerseys, along with the Club’s 2024 merchandise range, are on sale now at the Club Store for $120 too, with Club Members entitled to 20% discounts on all merchandise.
