Aviva Premiership
Exiles confirm Catt departure
ESPNscrum Staff
May 1, 2012
London Irish's Mike Catt injects some pace into an attack, Leicester Tigers v London Irish, Ginness Premiership Final, Twickenham, England, May 16,2009
Mike Catt has spent eight years at London Irish © Getty Images
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London Irish have confirmed that Mike Catt will leave the club at the end of the season.

Catt has since been announced as England's interim backs coach for the South Africa tour but unlike Andy Farrell during the Six Nations, he will not return to his club side after national duty.

The former fly-half has spent eight years at the Exiles in firstly a player capacity before then moving into a backroom role. Catt originally took on the backs coach position combining it with playing for the side but took on the backroom role on a full-time basis at the end of the 2009-10 season.

Catt admitted that it is tough to bid farewell to London Irish and has singled out Toby Booth in particular for praise. "It has been a difficult decision and I will be sad to leave London Irish," Catt said. "I want to say a huge thanks to all the players and coaches I have worked with since 2004.

"Toby Booth in particular deserves massive credit for what and how he has taught me. Thanks also to the supporters who have been brilliant over the last eight years and I will take away some lasting memories."

Catt may not be the only coach to leave the Exiles with reports suggesting that defence coach Justin Bishop's time at the club has also come to an end. London Irish are reportedly going to cut their backroom staff from 22 to 13 in an attempt to divert funds towards improving their playing squad.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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