Influencer White's got Sale in rhythm

A product of the St John Fisher College in Wigan, like Shaun Edwards, White’s innovative thinking and ability to bring the best out of sportsmen has aligned perfectly with the transition of Sale’s culture into a people-first environment under DoR Alex Sanderson.

- JON NEWCOMBE

Sanderson has spoken openly about how the mental side of the game is just as important as the physiological and that is borne out by the appointments of White and also Jamie Langley, in a full-time player management and welfare role, from Rugby League.

White is brilliant at relating what would once been frowned upon as ‘touchy-feely methods to the macho world of rugby and the improvements can been seen on and off the field.

Players such as Jean-Luc du Preez and AJ MacGinty have never played better rugby and Marland Yarde is in the form of his life.

“Do you know why? It is only my opinion but there is a huge sense of belonging,” said White, below,

“All the players have got talent and it is Alex’s style to let them fully express it without worrying what others think or worrying about making a mistake. When you have got that, you have got a pretty powerful team.”

Sale’s ‘brotherhood’, a phrase used consistently upon White’s arrival, have played for each other like never before, defying an unprecedented yellow card count to go on a record eight-game winning run in the league.