Rugby: Jason White regret at failure to clinch return to Warriors

On the day when his old club will bid to reach a first Celtic League final, White will step out into Clermont Auvergne’s Stade Marcel Michelin for the last time with his thoughts beginning to turn to a life beyond rugby.

He has not yet decided what direction he might follow, but the Aberdonian was excited in February when Glasgow’s outgoing coach Sean Lineen spoke publicly about the positive influence White could bring to the club. White has won league championships in Scotland, England and France, earned 77 Scotland caps and represented the British and Irish Lions in 2005, but, recently turned 34, he will leave Clermont at the end of this season.

He was surprised yesterday when a plane-load of Scots turned up in the French city, courtesy of the Xodus Group, a Scottish oil and gas firm, for whom White has been a popular ambassador in recent years. Among the visitors were his parents, more family and friends and his former Scotland coach Frank Hadden, all to witness his last appearance in the regular French league, before the play-offs, against Brive this afternoon.

However, the lock, who helped Scotland to Calcutta Cup victory in his first Test in 2000 and captained Scotland to the next one, in 2006, admitted that he had hoped briefly that he might pull on a Glasgow jersey once again.

“It is fantastic to see so many people out here on what might be quite an emotional weekend, and I feel very humbled,” he said.

“But, yes, I did hope for a minute that there might be something in the Glasgow talk. My agent Rowen Shepherd spoke to Glasgow after Sean said some nice things about me in the paper, but I don’t think that there was any real possibility of a move.

“It is a pity because I do feel I have a lot of experience from the past 12 years or so that I would like to pass on. I’m pretty sure that whatever I do in the future there will be some way that I can share some of what I have learned in the Scottish game, at Sale and at Clermont, and playing with Scotland, but where that proves to be I don’t know yet.

“Glasgow are going very well this season and it’s great to see them involved in the play-offs, and I wish them well. I have always followed the team closely since I left for Sale way back in 2003, and it has been difficult at times watching Scottish rugby struggle to find its own way in the professional game, and while I may not play a full season of games at the age I’m at now, I know I still have a lot to give in different ways, and it would have been great to come back to the club where it really took off for me.

“I did get a bit excited by it, and so did the family, but as they say out here, c’est la vie’.”

Glasgow had not considered a move for White until media speculation prompted questions for Lineen last month, and the coach responded by saying that White would be a valuable addition.

“Jason is a fantastic player and has been brilliant for Scotland,” said Lineen. “He will be 34, but you look at the quality and experience he has from being in France. He’s tough, he’s a leader, he’s Scottish, he’s a good lad and he’s been at Glasgow before.

“You’ve got to get the balance right and one thing we’ve done well at Glasgow is promote youngsters, with Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson and Stuart Hogg the latest coming through. But you also look at the wider picture and recognise that it’s not just the coaches that help young players develop, but the players around them too.

“You need experienced players on the training paddock, in the analysis and helping players get into good habits off the field.”

With Lineen signing Kiwi Angus MacDonald and re-signing John Barclay, no move was made, but the product of Cults Academy is looking forward to returning to his homeland after three years in France and helping to provide inspiration somewhere.

“I am looking forward to the weekend and I hope we win in my last game at this great stadium, and maybe another in the play-offs, but I hope that Glasgow win in Dublin as well and we have a double celebration this weekend.

“Scottish rugby has come on a long way since the days we were travelling by bus down to Wales, and it’s great to see Edinburgh doing well in the Heineken Cup and Glasgow now involved in the RaboDirect play-offs.

“I have a lot to think about in the next little while, but I will be heading back to Scotland and I hope I can play a part somewhere in helping to use some of what I have learned to help the next generation of young players coming through.”