Youngs: Delaney exit’s sad

ENGLAND hooker Tom Youngs is backing Glenn Delaney to make a rapid return to elite level coaching after he was last week fired by London Irish.

Delaney helped convert ex-centre Youngs into a hooker as director of rugby at Nottingham before switching to Irish as forwards coach in 2012.

Latterly he was head of rugby operations but was deemed surplus to requirements by new technical director, Brendan Venter.

Youngs said: “I was very disappointed to hear what had happened to Glenn because he’s a great coach. I’m certain he’s going to bounce back soon.

“He was the guy when it all started for me on loan at Nottingham and not many coaches would have entertained a centre coming to play hooker and then select him week-in, week-out.

“He was always very positive about things and kept me switched on to go for it.”

Youngs feels Delaney’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the Championship would have served Irish well following relegation from the Premiership.

He added: “Glenn knows that league and it’s tough. I hope Irish are not going in there thinking they’re going to come straight back up easily.”

Chief executive Bob Casey said: “The difficulties of relegation have meant that inevitably people have moved on from the club.”