Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving

TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.

- MARK STEVENS

Booth has been in charge of the Swanseabased team since 2020 but will be replaced by Mark Jones, who will be promoted from defence coach, a role Justin Tipuric will himself take over once he calls time on his own playing career at the end of the season.

In a co-ordinated club announcement, Booth – alongside chief executive Lance Bradley – outlined the exit plan, as well as the long-term coaching strategy.

However, there are still questions that linger for many outside observers.

Talks of a new deal for Booth – whose contrcat runs out in the summer – had been mooted since before Bradley joined the Ospreys in January 2024, but no new deal was offered.

“I understand why people are asking the question and that people are looking for angles and reasons,” said Booth.

“Of course you wrestle with decisions, you don’t invest four years of yourself, this will be the fifth year, into any project with any view of going. People know how committed I am to the whole thing, the Ospreys, my people, my players and the environment.