World Cup-winning coach Jake White has said turning down the Wales job was the “biggest mistake” of his career.
White has revealed he was approached by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to succeed the sacked Gareth Jenkins in 2007.
At the time he was in the process of leading South Africa to World Cup success in France and rejected Wales, who instead appointed Warren Gatland.
White, 59, said: “I was tapped on the shoulder for the Wales job and perhaps my biggest mistake was not taking it.”
He added: “David Pickering (then WRU chairman) asked me about the Wales job in 2007 and, in hindsight, I regret saying no.
“It was a great opportunity and I didn’t realise at the time, but I haven’t worked in international rugby since then. I was only 43 and never thought I would be finished in [Test] rugby.
“Who knows what might have happened had I taken it but I can’t rewind the clock. Things twist and turn and life moves on. But I will always have great memories of Welsh rugby, the incredible players it has produced, the rugby culture and the people involved.”
Wales fired Jenkins after crashing out of the pool stage of France 2007, while White’s Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in Paris a few weeks later.
However, White fell out with South African rugby bosses over whether or not he should be expected to re-apply for his job.
His final Test match in charge of the Springboks, by coincidence, was against Wales in Cardiff that November before a friendly against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Since then he has led Brumbies to a Super Rugby final, Sharks to a semi-final, Montpellier to European Challenge Cup success and Bulls to the 2022 United Rugby Championship final.
Wales, meanwhile, enjoyed a golden period during Gatland’s first spell in charge, winning the Six Nations four times as well twice reaching a World Cup semi-final.
‘Frustration for regions’
However White, who masterminded the Bulls’ record 63-21 win over Scarlets at the weekend, says Gatland and Welsh rugby have a rebuilding job on their hands.
He said that job will not be helped by the controversial fixture clash involving Wales’ game against the Barbarians on 4 November, the same day that Scarlets meet Cardiff in the URC.
“I’m aware Scarlets had their Wales players missing against us (Bulls) and will lose some more for this exhibition game Wales are playing. I understand the WRU need financial returns but it must be incredibly frustrating for the regions,” he said.
“Regional rugby is changing because of the amount of money they can spend, the number of players they now have and senior players leaving. Any team is going to suffer when the likes of Alun Wyn Jones or Dan Biggar leave.
“The model of letting players based overseas play for the national team is not a great model to build franchises. I’ve said the same thing here in South Africa and I’ve had experience on both sides.
“So there are going to be teething problems and it will take time but I’m sure Welsh rugby will keep producing great players. The Welsh public know rugby and will realise it is not an overnight fix and will take time.
“People just need to buy into the regions and that will help Warren Gatland build a Wales team that will be even more competitive at the next World Cup in four years.”