White was born in Carlisle and served in the Royal Navy before becoming a schoolteacher, having previously undertaken a 4-year specialist course in Physical Education at Borough Road College, Isleworth.
He played scrum-half for Old Creightonians, Penzance & Newlyn, Camborne RFC and Leicester Tigers before his career was ended after he was diagnosed with Ménière's disease and lost his sense of balance.
At this time the game was still amateur, and coaching frowned upon as "cheating", but White installed a professional attitude at Leicester.
The Leicester team including Paul Dodge, Peter Wheeler and Clive Woodward.
White also had a keen eye for young talent and was not afraid to give players their first opportunity to play at the top level.