Toby Booth is going nowhere – Rugby News Update
Toby Booth, the head coach of the London Irish rugby team, who are also called the Exiles, has insisted that he will honour his contract with the club and be at the helm, starting next season.
Toby Booth is overlooking a major change at the club, which he joined as an assistant academy manager in 2002 and the 42-year-old head coach was promoted to his current position in 2008.
The club is seeing players like Nick Kennedy, Delon Armitage and Dan Bowden leaving, while Tomas O’Leary and Scott Lawson will join over the summer.
The rumours of his departure started with the Sale Sharks, Gloucester and Bath looking for a new head coach, and his name was being touted as a possible replacement for his great work with the Exiles. In his first full year as a head coach, he took his team
to the Premiership final, losing to Leicester by a solitary point.
While speaking to the Evening Standard he quashed all rumours, saying, "I don't know where that speculation came from because I have two years of my contract to run and there was nothing factual in those rumours."
Booth is also seeing the return of the prodigal son Shane Geraghty, who returns to the club this summer. Geraghty started as a trainee with the club, making a smooth transition to the first team and leaving in acrimonious circumstances. However, he is returning
and the head coach on his arrival said, "Shane's contribution during his first spell with London Irish was massive and he will contribute the same when he joins us. We're looking forward to welcoming him back into the fold."
On the overall transfer policy and his plans for the new season, Booth said, "We will rebuild with English-qualified players off the back of our academy with a touch of Irish flavour but we also want to sign some world-class players."
It is unlikely that Booth will no longer be the head coach of the Exiles, as currently he is freshening up the squad, adding new players and preparing a side that will be strong and title contenders for the next season.
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