White joins Connacht's coaching staff

Former Connacht prop Nathan White has joined Pat Lam's coaching team, just three months after his retirement as player.

White, 35, retired from professional rugby on medical advice following a concussion during Connacht's win over Leinster at the Sportsground in Galway in March.

The New Zealand-born prop featured in all five of Ireland's 2015 World Cup matches and all of their 2016 Six Nations games, and featured 13 times for Ireland in total since his August 2015 debut.

"Nathan White has been helping us out", Connacht head coach Pat Lam told the Irish Examiner ahead of the Pro 12 match against Munster on New Year's Eve.

Lam also confirmed that former Munster player Mossy Lawler will replace New Zealand-bound Dave Ellis as Connacht's skills coach

"Mossy Lawler has been helping out as well. And obviously Jimmy [Duffy], Conor [McPhillips] and myself, so there are five of us."

"Whitey has been good, particularly with the RTPs [return to play protocols]. Whitey has been in there a bit when he has been injured. Whitey has the ambition to do coaching as well. So this is a good step for him."

Connacht have 22 players either injured or doubtful for the match against Munster at the Sportsground on Saturday, after captain John Muldoon and Ultan Dillane suffered injuries in last week's defeat to Ulster. Connacht centre Bundee Aki has already been ruled out until February following ankle surgery.

Photo (Inpho/ James Crombie)

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 6 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer.