White, Jake Jake White (born Jacob Westerduin on December 13, 1963) is a professional rugby union coach and former coach of the South African national side, the Springboks, whom he led to victories in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations. He is currently head coach of Japanese club Yamaha Riders. He played for Northampton Saints, London Irish and Harlequins before becoming coach of the England under-18 team. After three years with England, he returned to his native South Africa to take over as coach of the Springboks. Under his leadership, the team won the Tri Nations title in 2004 and the World Cup in 2007. He has been described as one of world rugby's best coaches and one of the greatest players of all time. He was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga, Silver, for his services to rugby, by the government of Mozambique in 2008. Jake White was born in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. He grew up in Woodlands, a suburb north of the city center. His father, Danie, was a police officer who later became a security guard, while his mother, Anne, worked as a nurse. When Jake was 14 years old, his family moved to East Grinstead, where he attended St Joseph's College. It was here that he began playing rugby for the school team.