Ospreys coach replaced by players
09/07/2024 12:53 AM
Toby Booth will leave Ospreys at the end of the season, with former Wales wing Mark Jones stepping up as head coach and Justin Tipuric taking on the defence role.
The shock announcement also confirms that Tipuric, who has made over 200 appearances since 2009, will retire from playing after this season.
Booth, who joined Ospreys in 2020, reflected on his tenure. “I’m immensely proud of the people and the individuals that are effectively ‘my team’,” Booth told WalesOnline. “We’re at an interesting junction… where the team is, where I am, and where the Ospreys are.”
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He added, “The timing is good. We’ve created a more self-reliant group. The time is right for me to move onto something different.”
Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley praised Booth's impact, saying, “He’s done an outstanding job… to get to the knockout stages of both competitions with the constraints we had is remarkable.”
Jones, who has been Ospreys’ defence coach for the past year, said, “The privilege of coaching the Ospreys is not lost on me… I’m delighted.”
Tipuric, a 93-cap Wales legend, expressed excitement about his transition to coaching, adding, “I’ve loved my time playing… Hopefully, we can enjoy the last year while I learn for next year.”
Photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
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