Jake White and Derek Page Depart Selborne College Following Dispute with School Leadership

Details on the departure of Jake White and Derek Page from Selborne College following a dispute with the school's headmaster over rugby management.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 6:08 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Rugby365

Breakdown of the Rugby Project

The initiative to restore the rugby standing of Selborne College has collapsed following the resignation of high-profile consultants Jake White and Derek Page. The pair, brought in to overhaul a declining program, have not been active at the school for over a month. The departure highlights a fundamental rift between the rugby coaching staff and the school’s administrative leadership regarding how the sport should be managed within a traditional educational framework.

Administrative Friction and Interference

In a formal letter to the Selborne College Foundation Trust, Jake White detailed his frustrations, specifically citing "interference" from Headmaster Andrew Dewar. White alleged that the headmaster insisted on personal oversight of technical matters, such as the appointment of coaches, training schedules, and even social media communication. According to White, these "speed bumps" made it impossible to implement the level of excellence he was initially promised, leading him to conclude that the school leadership was not fully committed to the necessary changes.

Director of Rugby’s Constraints

Derek Page, acting as the Director of Rugby, claimed his authority was severely undermined by the headmaster’s micromanagement. Page noted that strategic moves—including a bursary system to keep local talent and expanding the fixture list for junior teams—were repeatedly blocked. He argued that while rival schools in the Eastern Cape are modernizing their sports programs, Selborne is "missing the boat" by adhering to restrictive internal policies that stifle growth and recruitment.