By Paul Jones
Toby Booth has insisted the Ospreys’ shock announcement that he is to stand down at the end of the 2024-25 season is the right decision.
The Swansea-based region have said that former Bath and London Irish coach Booth, who masterminded progression to the United Rugby Championship play-offs and EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals last term, will be succeeded by former Wales wing Mark Jones.
Jones will step up from his current position as Ospreys defence coach, with Justin Tipuric replacing Jones in that job.
Ex-Wales flanker Tipuric, who retired from international rugby in 2023, will hang up his boots next year to concentrate on coaching.
Tipuric won 93 caps for his country and joined the Ospreys 15 years ago.
“I came here four years ago with a very definite project, and I am leaving because it is the right time and there is a natural succession in place,” Booth said, in a statement released by the Ospreys.
Big news from the Ospreys this afternoon, as head coach Toby Booth will leave the club at the end of next season and be replaced by Mark Jones #BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/84k6Gq5pMQ
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 6, 2024
“Sometimes it is about timing, and I think the time is right for the group. I also think the time is right for me to move on to something a little different.”
But when asked after the Ospreys’ 14-10 victory over Exeter Chiefs in a pre-season friendly whether it was a mutual decision reached by himself and the Ospreys, Booth replied: “I’ve answered the question already.
“I understand why it is asked and that people are looking for angles and reasons.
“I’ve given my reasons and they are the reasons.
“How you get to those reasons is not helpful I don’t think because the outcome is still the outcome.”
“You wrestle with decisions. You don’t invest four years of yourself, and this will be the fifth year, into any project, with any view of going.
“You know how committed I am to the whole thing, the Ospreys, my people, my players and the environment.
“The legacy part of any coach’s tenure is measured in different ways.
Kinda says everything about how beloved and revered Toby Booth has been at the Ospreys that it’s totally overshadowed the retirement of Justin Tipuric, the club’s greatest-ever and my favourite player of all-time. https://t.co/SKeevFtRa2
— Squidge Rugby (@SquidgeRugby) September 6, 2024
“For me, it’s what we’ve done with the people. For where we’ve come from the era of poor performance where things were not clear, were inconsistent, had cynicism and [players having] a look over their shoulder all the time.
“Compared to where they are now, where players are supporting each other, challenging each other to be better in a protected environment that looks like high performance.
“If it all finished tomorrow, I would have done what I needed to do.”
Tipuric added: “The most exciting part for me is going into the coaching group and learning all the time.
“From when I first started playing to now at the end of my playing career, I feel like I have always learnt something new every day at the Ospreys.”
