Dewi Lake: Hooker vows to send Toby Booth off with historic season

Wales hooker Dewi Lake says he was shocked at the news head coach Toby Booth will leave Ospreys at the end of the season, but says the squad will try and send him off with an historic campaign.

It was announced last week that Booth will depart at the end of the 2024-25 season and be replaced by current defence coach Mark Jones.

Ex-Wales flanker Justin Tipuric, who retired from international rugby in 2023, will hang up his boots next year to replace Jones as defence coach.

Booth told the squad last Friday with chief executive Lance Bradley stating all parties were agreed on the decision.

“It was probably quite shocking news that we found out on Friday,” said Lake.

“Lance has spoken on it as has Toby so everyone has addressed the decision around it and the feeling around it.

“It’s a new direction I guess. They’ve made that decision, it’s come from them.

“As a playing group, our only job is to give them a good send-off, make this last season a good one to remember for us, for him and also one we can put down in the history books for this club.”

Booth has been at Ospreys since 2020 and Lake admitted the coach had played a major role in his career which saw the hooker captain Wales on the summer tour of Australia in 2024.

“He has given me a chance,” said Lake.

“We’re very aligned on views and thoughts and the way we see the game.

“We’ve got along very well throughout the years and he’s taught me a lot about the game, leadership and culture.

“He’s just given me a chance to be the best I can be.”