Don White (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Donald Frederick White was an English rugby union
footballer and coach.
He was educated at Wellingborough grammar school, and at the age of 17 made his debut for Northampton
, playing at prop. He made his Test
debut for England
in 1947 against Wales
as flanker
. He played 13 more matches for England, his last in 1953.
White became Northampton's captain in 1954 and continued in the role until he retired from rugby in 1961 at the age of 35. He had represented his club 448 times.
In 1964 he became managing director and chairman of his family's shoe business, which received a Queen's award for export achievement in 1990.
In 1969 he became England's first national coach; he continued in the job until 1971, finishing with a record of three wins and a draw from 11 matches.
.
In 1945 White made his first appearance against a touring side when Northampton played New Zealand Services; Northampton lost 11-6. In 1947 he was selected to make his international debut for England against Wales. He collected a cross-field kick to score a try
to help England win 9-3. He played for England until 1953, and made a total of 14 appearances.
He also played for a Leicestershire and Midlands Combined XV that played Australia
in 1947. He also led Midlands against South Africa
in 1951. He led East Midlands annually against the Barbarians
, and also won the counties championship with them in 1951. He also led East Midlands to the county championship final defeats in 1950 and 1953. He again played the Australians in 1957, this time leading a Leicestershire/East Midlands side to an 18-3 defeat. His most famous counties match was when he scored Leicestershire and East Midlands' only try in a 3-3 draw with the 1960 Springboks (South Africa).
He continued to play for Northampton until his retirement in 1961, and took over as captain from 1954, and when retired had represented the club 448 times. He had scored 116 tries, 71 penalties, 183 conversions and a drop goal - totaling 930 points. He was inducted into the Northampton Saints' Hall of Fame in 2005.
, "Don was chosen because he was the most forward-thinking coach in England". His first match in charge was an 11-8 victory over South Africa at Twickenham
in 1969. Of the eleven games England played with White in charge they won three, and drew one and lost seven. He resigned as England coach in 1971, and joined Northampton's committee. He was appointed the club's honorary president for their centenary season of 1979/1980. He continued to serve on the club's committee until he was ousted in 1988.
White was also the well respected President of Northampton Old Scouts RFC up until his passing away. Each April the club plays an over 30's v Under 30's game on a Saturday called the Don White Memorial Game, which is a well attended event. The Junior Sections play a large tournament again in Don White's name on the Sunday.
He was married to wife Barbara and had four children - Ian, Jill, Nick, and Sally - and nine grandchildren. He died at Earls Barton after illness, on 21 April 2007. His funeral on 4 May 2007 was attended by hundreds of mourners, including Northampton's club chairman Keith Barwell. There were so many mourners that it was necessary to set up more chairs outside the church. At the funeral, his daughter Jill said "He achieved more than most of us could in 10 lifetimes."
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer and coach.
He was educated at Wellingborough grammar school, and at the age of 17 made his debut for Northampton
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
, playing at prop. He made his Test
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
debut for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in 1947 against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
as flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
. He played 13 more matches for England, his last in 1953.
White became Northampton's captain in 1954 and continued in the role until he retired from rugby in 1961 at the age of 35. He had represented his club 448 times.
In 1964 he became managing director and chairman of his family's shoe business, which received a Queen's award for export achievement in 1990.
In 1969 he became England's first national coach; he continued in the job until 1971, finishing with a record of three wins and a draw from 11 matches.
Playing career
White made his first-class debut when he played for Northampton against Coventry in 1943. He was only 17 at the time and attending Wellingborough grammar school. He had been recommended to the Northampton team by his history teacher. White said of his debut - where he played at prop - "I thought I'd get a fearful hiding, but I emerged unscathed." White continued to play for Northampton, and eventually switched from playing prop to flankerFlanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
.
In 1945 White made his first appearance against a touring side when Northampton played New Zealand Services; Northampton lost 11-6. In 1947 he was selected to make his international debut for England against Wales. He collected a cross-field kick to score a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
to help England win 9-3. He played for England until 1953, and made a total of 14 appearances.
He also played for a Leicestershire and Midlands Combined XV that played Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in 1947. He also led Midlands against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in 1951. He led East Midlands annually against the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
, and also won the counties championship with them in 1951. He also led East Midlands to the county championship final defeats in 1950 and 1953. He again played the Australians in 1957, this time leading a Leicestershire/East Midlands side to an 18-3 defeat. His most famous counties match was when he scored Leicestershire and East Midlands' only try in a 3-3 draw with the 1960 Springboks (South Africa).
He continued to play for Northampton until his retirement in 1961, and took over as captain from 1954, and when retired had represented the club 448 times. He had scored 116 tries, 71 penalties, 183 conversions and a drop goal - totaling 930 points. He was inducted into the Northampton Saints' Hall of Fame in 2005.
Coach and administrator
White was appointed as England's first-ever coach in 1969. According to former Northampton player Bob TaylorBob Taylor (rugby player)
Robert Bainbridge Taylor is a former England rugby player and past president of the Rugby Football Union. He is from Northampton, England, and studied at King Alfred's College from 1960 - 1963....
, "Don was chosen because he was the most forward-thinking coach in England". His first match in charge was an 11-8 victory over South Africa at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
in 1969. Of the eleven games England played with White in charge they won three, and drew one and lost seven. He resigned as England coach in 1971, and joined Northampton's committee. He was appointed the club's honorary president for their centenary season of 1979/1980. He continued to serve on the club's committee until he was ousted in 1988.
Personal and professional life
After finishing his schooling at Wellingborough Grammar School, White started working for his family's shoe business White & Co in Earls Barton. He continued working at the family business and in 1964 was appointed as its managing director and chairman. In 1990 he received the Queen's award for export achievement. He continued as the managing director and chairman until his retirement in 1996.White was also the well respected President of Northampton Old Scouts RFC up until his passing away. Each April the club plays an over 30's v Under 30's game on a Saturday called the Don White Memorial Game, which is a well attended event. The Junior Sections play a large tournament again in Don White's name on the Sunday.
He was married to wife Barbara and had four children - Ian, Jill, Nick, and Sally - and nine grandchildren. He died at Earls Barton after illness, on 21 April 2007. His funeral on 4 May 2007 was attended by hundreds of mourners, including Northampton's club chairman Keith Barwell. There were so many mourners that it was necessary to set up more chairs outside the church. At the funeral, his daughter Jill said "He achieved more than most of us could in 10 lifetimes."