Snubbed Leicester legend was 'the best coach England never had'

Former Leicester and England greats have universally acclaimed ‘Chalkie’ White as ‘the best coach England never had’ in a new book about the Tigers legend, written by former player Martin Whitcombe.

For the 256-page biography, Whitcombe conducted 80 interviews, including talking to the likes of RWC 2003 World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, Dean Richards and Peter Wheeler.

A Cumbrian by birth, White is credited with revolutionising rugby and turning Leicester into the powerhouse of the English game in his 16 years in charge, having also served the club as a player.

White led the Tigers to a hat-trick of Cup successes between 1979-81, when the Cup competition was the only national silverware on offer.

His visionary thinking inspired the careers of many an England international and British and Irish Lion, but the RFU consistently overlooked him as head coach of England.

Instead of getting the job that his track record and skills demanded, the outspoken White was given a regional administrative role.

“We could have lost him halfway through our Cup run if England had asked him to coach the national side,” recalled former England and Leicester captain Peter Wheeler.

“As coach to the most successful team in English club rugby, Chalkie was the stand-out candidate. The job would have been absolutely right for him at that stage.

“He had all the credentials: the track record, had worked successfully with players at all levels and gained their respect, and was ambitious too.

“In the period after I was capped by John Burgess in 1975, England went through a number of coaches, but instead of giving Chalkie the position, he was packed off to become Technical Administrator for the south west, where he became an over-qualified administrator, and never to become England coach.”

Les Cusworth remembers how White brought the best out of players, especially in a creative sense, describing him as ’40 years ahead of his time.’

“Chalkie White was a very hard man, but you knew exactly where you stood with him. He would say: ‘Why kick the ball when you can run it? If running can give you more advantage, ball in hand, you can always control the game.’

“Crucially, he taught the midfield the importance of getting over the gain line. He coached us for hours and hours, from a lineout with full opposition, with off-the-top ball, then a flat pass from Steve Kenney or Nick Youngs. In just two passes, I had Paul Dodge running at the 10’s inside shoulder – he was the first coach to teach me this.

“Sometimes Robin Cowling and Steve Redfern would try to get involved, but he would rush over and say, ‘Don’t give it to the props.’ He wanted speed and quick ball with continuity, change of angle and deception, and lots of variety with an attacking philosophy.

“When we played Wasps in a John Player Cup semi-final tie in Sudbury, they had been on a great run of results with a team packed with internationals. We beat them convincingly by over 40 points, scoring tries from all angles and positions, including one from a counterattack by Dusty Hare from our own try line.

“I remember my dear friend Tony Hopkins, a lifelong Tigers’ member and committee man, saying that was the best Tigers display he had ever seen. That kind of coaching methodology, instilled in us by Mr. H.V. White, was 40 years ahead of its time.”

It is now just over 20 years since White passed, but his legacy lives on – in the players he coached, the coaches he inspired and now in print, thanks to this incredible body of work by Whitcombe, the former Leicester and England B prop.

‘Chalkie White – Leicester Tigers legend’ is available to buy from St. David’s Press.