When a sportsman calls time on his career it can often be difficult filling the void his inactivity brings.
But since hanging up his rugby boots in December 2012, former Scotland captain Jason White has had no such worries as he has balanced not one, not two, but three roles since retiring.
The Aberdonian was one of the most ferocious tacklers Scottish rugby has produced and his displays led to him representing his country 77 times.
At 6ft 5in, he is a physically imposing man but the time has come to show off his brains, rather than his brawn, as he makes his tentative steps into the energy sector.
Energy consultancy firm Xodus have enlisted White’s help and, having worked with the company as an ambassador previously, the chance to come on board permanently was one he could not turn down.
He said: “I came on board on September 2 as an employee but I’ve known Xodus since I was a sporting ambassador six years ago.
“My links to Aberdeen were an important factor in coming on board. I grew up here and the oil industry has been such a big part of the city for decades now.
“I’ve been looking for a way to get involved in the industry so this opportunity was bang on my radar.
“It was a big decision. One big part of my career was at an end and deciding what to do next wasn’t a straightforward task.
“I had an existing relationship with chief executive Colin Manson and it’s his fault I’m here now. I’m sure he was in the pub one day and saw me on the TV when the idea came for me to get involved.
“They put a lot of emphasis on sport and it is a company which is a great fit for me. I’m hoping to add some value to the company by looking at its internal and external performance.”
The commitments to Xodus will keep White busy but he has managed to keep himself involved in sport in other ways.
White, who is married to Beverly and father to their three children, has more than Xodus on his plate though and has managed to keep his interest in the game alive via coaching in Edinburgh, where he is based.
“I’m two-and-a-half days a week with Xodus, coaching at Watsonians and doing a bit of work with Red Sky Management in Edinburgh. Add in trying to play dad at home and it’s fair to say I’m pretty tired at the end of each day.
“I’m really happy with where my life is at the moment. I’ve got lots of challenges but ones I am really looking forward to getting involved in.”
White is the new kid on the block in terms of the energy sector but he believes his qualities from the rugby field can serve him well in the business community.
White, who has been appointed business performance coach at the company, is confident he can bring something different to the role.
He said: “I have a lot of transferable skills. I’ve got great experience and exposure to working under pressure, working towards a goal, leadership skills and reviewing performance.
“All those skills which I applied on the rugby field still apply in this job. I’ve got good soft skills up speaking to people too but I know I need to upscale my knowledge of the oil and gas industry.
“I’m not under the pretence of thinking I will have the technical knowledge of the experts but certainly I intend on getting to know as much about the inner workings of the company as possible.
“My mantra is where can I aid performance and add value to the company?
“I will be speaking to clients and identifying what we do well in their eyes and evaluating the areas where we can improve.”
The days of White rampaging around a rugby field are gone but he will have the chance to show his physical prowess next month, this time representing his employers.
He explained: “We will take a quarter of the workforce out to Dubai in November for a three-day mini-Olympics. It’s a great initiative in what we regard as super-charged team building.
“I’m going back later in November for the veteran’s tournament which runs in conjunction with the Dubai Sevens. Last year the Xodus Steelers won and we are going back to defend our title.
“I was too young last year but I qualify for the veterans team now and it will be the first time I’ve played since I finished.
“There will be other ex-internationals involved such as Marcus Di Rollo and Gavin Kerr so it should be a lot of fun.”
Recommended for you
