‘It went okay...’ Flood ends his 18-year career

FORMER Leicester Tigers fly-half Toby Flood has called time on his 18-year playing career, writes Bobby Bridge.

The three-time Premiership winner, pictured, will remain at Newcastle Falcons as a kicking and skills coach – a role he will combine with studying for his Masters degree in business at Cambridge University.

“Dean Richards and I discussed the idea a little bit towards the end of last season, and as time went on, the way my body was and the fact I was going away to university for parts of the year – it just seemed to make sense,” said Flood, who played 141 times during his two spells with Newcastle Falcons.

Flood made 119 appearances with Leicester Tigers during a sixyear stay and earned 60 caps for England. He also spent three seasons with French giants Toulouse.

Reflecting on his career, the 36-year-old said: “It was all right – I think it went okay!

“I made my first-team debut against Wasps in 2004 and we got pumped 83-10 away to Leicester live on TV in my second game – and then my last professional appearance was a big defeat away to Exeter live on TV, just to bookend it nicely! It’s obviously not the way you would want it to finish, but there were a lot of good times in between.

“A professional rugby career just flies by, and it’s mad to think this was going to be my 18th pre-season.

“I know a lot of people who haven’t been anywhere near that lucky, and I’m incredibly grateful to have had such a long stint.

“There’s a lot of pleasure and satisfaction from every stop on that journey, and too many people to thank.

“The good wins are the ones that create the best memories and the bad losses are the ones that tend to stick in your mind more – but it was fun while it lasted.”

Now looking to further his coaching and academic ambitions, Flood said: “We had a conversation at the club and we decided to go down the route of me working as a kicking and skills coach.”

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Toby can look back with great pride on an outstanding playing career for club and country.

“He has been in the very top bracket of English fly-halves for well over a decade, and will now add enormous value to us from a coaching perspective.”

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