Just when you thought Nic White was ready to hang up his boots and call it a day, the rugby gods seem to have other plans. The 35-year-old scrumhalf might just delay his retirement fireworks, thanks to a sudden injury scramble within the Wallabies' ranks. With the 2025 Rugby Championship looming and a scrumhalf spot suddenly up for grabs, could White be the emergency break glass option?
Last weekend, after a victorious 22-12 scuffle against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney, White hinted at saying goodbye to his international rugby days. He even planned a grand exit from all professional rugby by the end of the year. But as fate would have it, Jake Gordon's hamstring decided to play spoilsport during a routine training session, leaving the Waratahs' number 9 sidelined.
Enter White, potentially not riding into the sunset just yet. Wallabies' head coach Joe Schmidt seems to think there’s still some fuel left in White's tank.
"Whitey will rival me, maybe, in terms of being like Johnny Farnham, there’s one more tour,"
Schmidt quipped, referencing the Aussie music legend famous for his countless 'farewell' tours.Clearly, the prospect of donning the green and gold one more time doesn't seem to faze White.
"If duty calls, I absolutely love wearing the jersey,"
he expressed, signaling his readiness to answer the Wallabies' call.The stage is set for a dramatic showdown, with the Wallabies kicking off their campaign against the formidable Springboks at Ellis Park on August 16. The follow-up match will see them clash again on August 23 in Cape Town. As the clock ticks down, all eyes will be on whether White will step onto the pitch, proving once more that old warriors might just have the best last stand.
So, as the Wallabies navigate through their pre-tournament predicaments, one thing's for certain: Nic White’s rugby tale might just have a few more thrilling pages left. Will he be the hero Australia needs? Time, and perhaps a bit of rugby magic, will tell.