Cape Town - Brumbies coach and former Springbok boss, Jake White, has turned down the Ireland Rugby Football Union's (IRFU) request for an interview regarding the vacant Ireland head coach position.
White told Australian reporters that he remains committed to the Brumbies and is thus unavailable for the Ireland job.
"I'm happy here, I'm coaching boys in Australia and I'm enjoying that,"
White said.
"I'm really not in the market for every coaching job that pops up, I'm focusing on the Brumbies and making them better and in turn making Australian rugby better which is one of my briefs as a Super Rugby coach in Australia."
With White out the picture, Reds mentor Ewen McKenzie, New Zealander Joe Schmidt and Australian Les Kiss are seen as the main contenders to take over from sacked coach Declan Kidney.
White and McKenzie will do battle in a top-of-the-table Super Rugby clash at
Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday. Kick-off is at 11:40 SA time.
McKenzie has already announced that he will be leaving the Reds at the end of the 2013 season. If he fails to land the Ireland role, he's widely expected to succeed Robbie Deans as head coach of the Wallabies.