The Vodacom Bulls have confirmed that Jake White underwent successful emergency abdominal surgery on Sunday evening and will take a break for the rest of the team’s fixtures in January.
White was forced to watch from the team hotel with a cold as the Vodacom Bulls beat the Dragons in Newport on Friday night.
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However, according to a Vodacom Bulls press release, shortly after the team arrived back at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, White complained about debilitating stomach cramps and was rushed to hospital, necessitating an emergency operation.
After further specialist consultations and discussions with the Bulls medical team, at around 6pm on Sunday, White was taken in for an operation to repair the assessed damage.
The successful two-hour surgery took place at a Pretoria hospital and the doctors were pleased that everything went well.
The Bulls medical team is confident that White will make a full recovery and return to his role soon.
While recovering from the operation and going through his rehabilitation programme, White will be taking a brief break from his team duties until 8 February.
As they did against the Dragons, the rest of the Bulls coaching team will continue to share the responsibility of leading the side while the director of rugby is away.
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone visited White on Monday morning, to convey a message of support, stating that everyone at the club cannot wait to have him back on his feet.
“It is never nice to see one of our own down but we are extremely confident that Jake is receiving the best medical attention available and our team of medical experts will provide him with all the necessary support he will need to make a full recovery,” said Rathbone.
“We would like to thank the hospital team, doctors and all those who rushed to offer their expertise and helped with attending to Jake. We have seen, first-hand, why South African medicine is rated among the best in the world. Thank you.”
The Bulls will host English side the Exeter Chiefs in a Champions Cup clash on Saturday night, before travelling to face Lyon and the Scarlets in their remaining fixtures in January.
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