‘I couldn’t be happier’: Wallaby Nic White signs with Western Force

Looking to “grow the game” in Western Australia, the Force have landed a major coup by signing Wallaby Nic White to a two-year deal from next season.

The Wallabies have some world-class talent to choose from at halfback, but veteran Nic White is clearly the frontrunner for the No. 9 jersey ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup.

White played 12 Test matches in Wallaby gold last year, including 10 starts, which allowed him to regularly showcase his skill, grace and poise on the international stage.

Under new Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, White will hold the key for the team at this year’s World Cup – and the 32-year-old will continue to play an important role for the years to come.

While there were reports last week that White might be heading west, the Force officially confirmed on Tuesday morning that the Wallaby had penned a deal with the franchise.

Looking to contribute to this year’s World Cup campaign and the British and Irish Lions series in 2025, White has signed a two-year contract extension with Australian Rugby.

“I couldn’t be happier to be sticking around in Australian Rugby,” White said.

“There’s plenty to look forward to with the Rugby World Cup later this year and I’ve made no secret of my desire to be involved in the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025.

“I’d like to thank everyone at the Brumbies and their supporters for the past four years. It’s a really special club and I’ll be doing everything I can to make this year a successful one.

“At the same time, the opportunity to join the Western Force I something that really appealed to me and my family and we’re looking forward to getting over there next year.”

With 270 first class appearances to his name, including decorated stints with Australian powerhouse the Brumbies, White is eager to bring his experience to a team that is “moving in the right direction.”

“This is an awesome opportunity for myself and my family. I am thrilled to stay in Australian Rugby and play for the Force next season,” White said in a Western Force statement.

“I am really looking forward to coming over and being part of the hard working environment Simon (Cron) has created. The club is moving in the right direction, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

“What I feel like I can bring to the Force is my experience. I’ve been to three clubs now, Montpellier, Exeter and Brumbies, and have tasted success at all three, so I feel like I have a fairly good understanding of what success looks like and how much work goes into building a successful club and culture.

“I have had conversations with Simon about building a winning environment.

“As a team, you show what you can do on match day, but it all comes down to the process. It’s all about how hard you work in pre-season. It’s all about how hard you work in pre-season and Monday-Friday. This is an area I have a lot of knowledge to pass on and its importance.”

White played his 50^th Test match in Wallaby gold last year, and has also plied his trade overseas with Montpellier and Exeter.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones described White as a “world-class nine” in a statement shared by Rugby Australia.

Western Force coach Simon Cron shared a very similar message, as he explained why the star signing was so important for the growth and development of the sport in Perth.

“Nic is a great addition to the team,” Cron said.

“When we look at our team and the key jigsaw pieces for us to be successful, we look at recruitment and retention and what the player makeup looks like. Nic adds an enormous amount of experience.

“He is a winner, he is a brilliant leader and game manager. One of the things that excited me about Nic is that he fights until the last minute.

“One of the biggest areas we can grow is in our leadership groups. We have a number of emerging leaders here and the key thing for us to give them role models to learn from, Nic will be one of those.

“We are really excited, Nic comes with his wife Melissa and his boys, Sonny, Leo and Vincent, and we look forward to welcoming them to Perth.

“When the management here signed, we all agreed that we must grow the game here in Western Australia. We need to do as much as possible to help the next step of players, coaches, and referees.

“Plenty of kids out there want to be the next Nic White, and the best way to foster this is to meet him and see him in action.”