The Vodacom Bulls will be without their Director of Rugby for the foreseeable future after he was rushed to hospital with a medical emergency.
The Blue Bulls Company released a statement on Monday morning confirming the situation and that White would be given a leave of absence to recover from emergency abdominal surgery.
“The Blue Bulls Company (BBCo.) wishes to notify the public that Vodacom Bulls mentor and director of rugby, Jake White underwent successful emergency - abdominal - surgery on Sunday evening, 08 January 2023,” the team stateemnts said.
White missed the Bulls win over the Dragons on Friday night in Newport, and missed several other training and media sessions as he has been unwell.
“White had been under the weather during the Vodacom Bulls’ recent trip to Wales but was on the mend as the team returned from Newport. The team arrived back in South Africa, landing at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday mid-morning at 10:10am. Later in the day, the BBCo. director of rugby complained of debilitating stomach cramps and was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention, necessitating an emergency operation,” the statement explained.
“After further specialist consultations and discussions with our medical team, at around 18h00pm, White was taken in for an operation to repair the assessed damage. The successful 2-hour surgery took place at a Pretoria hospital and the doctors are pleased that everything went well. The medical team is confident that Jake will make a full recovery and return to his role soon.”
BBCo. Chief Executive Officer, Edgar Rathbone visited White this morning, to convey a message of support, stating that everyone at the club cannot wait to have him back on his feet.
“It is never nice to see one of our own down but we are extremely confident that Jake is receiving the best medical attention available and our team of medical experts will provide him with all the necessary support he will need to make a full recovery,”
“We would like to thank the hospital team, doctors and all those who rushed to offer their expertise and helped with attending to Jake. We have seen, first-hand, why South African medicine is rated among the best in the world. Thank you.”
White will be taking a break from team duties until 8 February and the rest of the coaching team will share the duties while he is away.
“While recovering from the operation and going through his rehabilitation programme, White will be taking a brief break from his team duties until the 08th of February 2023. At present, the club cannot place a timestamp on the length of this period but will be guided by the expertise and advice of the medical staff. Vodacom Bulls’ fans, stakeholders and the South African rugby-loving public will be kept in the know as and when there are developments or updates.
“Everyone at the Loftus wishes Jake a speedy recovery and will be supporting him in every way possible to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible.”