Maitland to start an Exiles exodus
LONDON IRISH are set to lose Lions wing Sean Maitland to Saracens next season as the collateral damage of relegation hits home.
The Exiles will begin drawing up plans for life in the Championship this week after Sunday’s home loss to Harlequins condemned them to the drop. It seems likely that Maitland, whose Scotland prospects would be compromised by playing in the Championship, will be on his way after the Exiles’ fi nal game of the season against Wasps on Saturday.
Maitland, above, has scored two league tries for Irish since joining from Glasgow last summer.
There will also be speculation over the future of Scotland back- row Blair Cowan, who fi nds himself in a similar position and is also understood to have a break clause in his contract. Irish are desperate to keep the bulk of their squad intact in order to bounce back immediately after losing their Premiership status for the fi rst time in their history.
Newcastle managed to do so after going through the same relegation trauma in 2012 and director of rugby Dean Richards feels player retention is critical for Irish’s prospects. “They have a side who can bounce straight back – assuming they can keep it together,” he said.
“Continuity is the big thing . You’ll get players who will want to jump ship – that’s the nature of the situation they are in – but they have some good players.”
Head coach Tom Coventry, who arrived last summer from the Chiefs in New Zealand, on a three- year contract accepts his position is under threat but wants to stay.
“I’m responsible for the results and the buck stops with me,” he said. “But I’d like to stay and keep the present squad together.”
Irish’s hopes of an instant return would improve if Bristol are promoted from the Championship this month, and they remain on course after thrashing Bedford 45- 16 in the away leg of their play- off semi- fi nal.
WASPS hooker Edd Shervington is to retire at the end of the season to pursue a career in musical theatre.
“I’m sure a few people will think my West End ambitions are a wind- up but I’d love to try something different and to follow another of my passions ,” he said . NORTHAMPTON have signed Stormers scrum- half Nic Groom to replace Bath- bound Kahn Fotuali’i.