Changing roles for Ospreys duo Morgan and Tipuric

Jac Morgan and Justin Tipuric have both captained Wales

There was some major Ospreys news last week, but you might have missed it.

Buried in an announcement that head coach Toby Booth will leave at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, to be replaced Mark Jones, was the news that flanker Justin Tipuric will retire at the end of the season.

On top of that, he will hand over the Ospreys captaincy to Jac Morgan with immediate effect.

The shock Booth departure overshadowed major developments in the careers of two Wales flankers who are in different chapters of their careers.

Tipuric will hang up his playing boots and become the Ospreys defence coach for the 2025-26 season, with Jones promoted to replace Booth at the same time.

Tipuric, 35, retired from international rugby in 2023 having won 93 caps for Wales and been part of four Six Nations title wins. He was also selected for three successive British and Irish Lions tours.

Booth described Tipuric an "Ospreys institution".

"The way we describe 'the man in the blue hat' is, if we were designing our man of the future, he would look a lot like Justin Tipuric," said Booth.

"He is the blueprint for Ospreys players we are producing.

"Apart from being an exceptionally gifted player who has played at the top level for a very long time, the thing that is so inspiring is he puts everybody in front of himself.

"He has the best interests of the team at heart and wants the Ospreys to be successful.

"He wants to have an influence on the team, not necessarily himself. I have never seen him self-promote once since I have been here.

"He has his opinions and wants to contribute in a positive way."

Making the transition

Justin Tipuric (left) has been Ospreys captain since Toby Booth (right) took over in 2020

Booth believes Tipuric has the characteristics needed to transition to coaching.

"Coaches are often selfless and have to put the team first and Justin's attributes and personality reflect that," he added.

"He will get the buy-in for who he is and what he has got.

"The challenge for any player that becomes a coach is you have to learn how to articulate ideas and display your presentation skills.

"The only way you do that is by time in the saddle. He has experience around him and his head coach Mark Jones has that defensive emphasis and will support him in that way.

"We are hopeful it won't all be dumped on to Justin as the defence coach. Modern coaching is about a team approach and he will be in an environment that will allow him to grow at the right tempo."

Captain Jac

Jac Morgan missed the 2024 Six Nations and summer tour of Australia because of injury

Morgan, 24, has succeeded Tipuric as Ospreys captain, a position the region have always seen as a long-term responsibility following the tenures of Alun Wyn Jones and Ryan Jones.

Ospreys stated in their announcement the captaincy decision was made by Tipuric to "ensure a smooth transition of leadership", with Morgan "well-equipped to lead the team both this season and into the future".

Morgan, Wales' 2023 World Cup co-captain with Dewi Lake, is out of contract at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Chief executive Lance Bradley says he hopes Morgan's long-term future will be at Ospreys, while Booth outlined why he is Tipuric's ideal successor.

"Part of this whole thing is passing the baton on," said Booth.

"We've got a lot of young leaders who can do that job.

"But you need a figurehead and a player that's going to represent the group and Jac is a person that does that.

"We know we have to cover him in international windows, but that's why it's a multi-leadership model that we try and promote."