Sean White made a statement during his career on the rugby pitch for both Canada and James Bay Athletic Association.

Now he aims to make one on the sidelines, as well, as the new head coach of JBAA in the B.C. Premier League.

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White replaces Pete Rushton, who led JBAA to five Rounsefell Cup B.C. Premier championships and seven Cup championship-game appearances in his 14 years of guiding the Bays.

“It’s a big challenge joining such a special group of people who have coached James Bay — from Tillman Briggs to Gary Johnston to Pete Rushton (Rushton will remain with the club in a mentorship role),” said White.

“If I can achieve anywhere near that level of success, I know I will have done something.”

White bled red internationally. Undersized but tenacious and quick in the backfield, he earned 27 caps for Canada in XVs, including in the 2011 World Cup, and 32 caps in sevens, including at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and in winning golds at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games.

At the club level, the 30-year-old White bled James Bay blue.

“My earliest memories are of the rugby field at Macdonald Park and watching my dad [Tim White] play for James Bay and then going on myself from that field to play for the Bays in junior, senior and then as captain before playing for Canada,” he said.

“It’s almost surreal now to be coaching James Bay. This brings my career and rugby life full circle and ties it up.”

The Bays were 10-10 this season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. JBAA has won a record 24 Rounsefell Cups in its 132-year club history but has not been a major factor in the B.C. Premiership since winning back-to-back Rounsefell Cup championships in 2013 and 2014, something White has been tasked to address.

“It’s not so much a rebuild as a refocus on what we are about as a club,” said White.

“We used to be identified by our power and forwards — the Blue Crush — but I want to adapt more of the modern game where not just eight players dominate a game, but all 15. Everybody has to move the ball in the modern game.”

White’s JBAA assistant coaches will be national champion B.C. Bears coach Tony Healy as the forwards coach, Canada U-20 head coach Jeff Williams as skills coach and former Great Britain Students Rugby League captain Blake Mahovic as attack coach.

“I am still building my coaching philosophy and still growing as a coach. I want as many different perspectives and voices as possible,” said White.

Meanwhile, Canada is on the ropes internationally and in danger of missing the World Cup next year for the first time in the national program’s history. White said that situation can be addressed long-term at the club level, with better prepared players moving up to play internationally for Canada.

“It starts at the club level,” said White. “At JBAA, we can be the change.”

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com