Experienced Wallabies star confirms his international retirement
Wallabies scrum-half Nic White in action against the Springboks and during a training session (inset).
Veteran Wallabies scrum-half Nic White has confirmed his retirement from international rugby just over six weeks after making a U-turn on the decision.
The 35-year-old initially called time on his Test career after the Wallabies’ series against the British & Irish Lions in Australia at the beginning of August.
However, after helping Australia to clinch a 22-12 victory over the famous touring team in the final Test in Sydney, White recanted that decision as he agreed to be part of the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship campaign.
Jake Gordon replaced in the Wallabies squad
This, after the first choice scrum-half Jake Gordon was ruled out due to injury.
White went on to make starts for Australia in their matches against South Africa in Johannesburg and Cape Town, respectively, as well as against Argentina in Townsville and Sydney.
However, with Gordon now back to full fitness, White has confirmed his retirement from the international arena for a second time and he will not be in action in the Wallabies’ remaining Bledisloe Cup Tests with the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland and Optus Stadium in Perth.
White confirmed his latest retirement decision via a hilarious social media post, featuring 18 photographs, with a caption which simply said: “F** I’m gonna miss it.”
One of the images showed his most recent Wallabies jersey, from Saturday’s 28-26 defeat to Argentina in Sydney with “Test 77 & out!” scribbled by hand.
It did not take long for White’s Wallabies team-mates to react to the post, with most of them commenting that it perhaps wouldn’t be his last time in action at Test level.
“One more time, one more time. Been an absolute pleasure,” wrote James O’Connor.
‘Give us one more!!’
Meanwhile, Andrew Kellaway added: “77* (potential unretirement) – great innings,” and Tom Wright wrote “Give us one more!!”
White played the first of his 77 Tests against Argentina in Perth in 2013 and represented the Brumbies and Western Force at Super Rugby level, although he also had stints in France with Montpellier (2015 to 2017) and in England with Exeter Chiefs (2017 to 2020).
When announcing his initial retirement at the end of July, White said: “Pulling on the gold jersey was a dream of mine… rugby has given me so much to be grateful for.
“There’s been great competition for the nine jersey here in the Wallabies for a number of years, and it feels like the right time to pass on the baton with some more good young players coming through who will need time in the saddle leading into what’s going to be an unbelievable experience of a home Rugby World Cup in 2027.”
