Booth to take the reins at struggling Ospreys
OSPREYS have named Toby Booth as the new head coach on a three-year deal, starting this summer.
Booth, 50, joined Harlequins as assistant coach in November 2019 after seven years as Bath’s first-team coach. Before that he spent seven years coaching London Irish.
Booth said: “When the opportunity was presented to join such an iconic Welsh team it made it an extremely attractive proposition.
“The Ospreys is a side full of rich talent and international experience, it is an ambitious group and has good potential to improve.
“Having developed players throughout my career, I look forward to adding value to this squad of players and developing their performances on the pitch.”
Ospreys have won only two out of 18 matches this season and are bottom of PRO14 Conference A and suffered six defeats in the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage.
They had been seeking a long-term replacement for head coach Allen Clarke, who left in December. In January, former Wales coach Mike Ruddock was appointed as performance director until the end of the current season, with part of his role to appoint a new coaching staff.
Backs coach Matt Sherratt – who leaves in the summer to join Worcester – and forwards coach Carl Hogg have been in charge of first-team affairs since Clarke’s departure.
“Toby is a vastly experienced coach who has proven himself in the Premiership with London Irish, Bath and Harlequins,” said Ruddock.
“There were a number of outstanding candidates on our short list however Toby’s ability to outline his impressive coaching philosophy and his rugby specific knowledge marked him out as a standout coach.
Meanwhile, former Wales hooker Mefin Davies will join the Dragons coaching team next season.
Davies, 47, will leave his current role as scrum and assistant forwards coach at Worcester to join the staff at Rodney Parade.
Dragons DoR Dean Ryan said:“I know Mefin very well after we worked together at Worcester, where he guided the development of Warriors’ talented forwards.
“He has made a real impression in the English Premiership and we now looking forward to seeing the impact he can make at Dragons.”