Fiji has appointed Jake White, the veteran South African coach and Rugby World Cup winner, as their new head coach ahead of the upcoming tournament in Australia. White, who led the Springboks to victory in the 2007 World Cup in France, takes over from interim boss Senirusi Seruvakula following a tumultuous period after Mick Byrne's departure in April.

At 62 years old, White brings a wealth of experience, having previously been linked with the England head coach position on three occasions, including in 2015 when Eddie Jones secured the role. His challenge now is to maximize the potential of a talented Fijian squad that reached the quarter-finals in the last World Cup.

I want to have the best-prepared group of players ever to go to a World Cup. That'll be our challenge,

White's first test in charge will be against Japan in Tokyo on October 24, followed by Nations Championship games against France, Ireland, and Italy. Fiji's recent performance saw them lose all three matches in July's competition, including a significant defeat of 73-8 against England.

Previously, White served as a technical advisor for Tonga in 2014, but this marks his first full-time international coaching role since his triumph with South Africa. The Fijian Rugby Union (FRU) sought an experienced candidate, with names like Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards also being considered for the position. Fiji is set to compete in Pool C alongside Argentina, Spain, and Canada at next year's World Cup.