EXCLUSIVE: Tom Coventry to be handed London Irish job

BY NEALE HARVEY AND NICK VERDIER
The Rugby Paper understands London Irish will be coached by Tom Coventry next season following Brian Smith departure.
Coventry, who is currently assistant coach at the Chiefs in New Zealand and was part of Samoa's 2011 World Cup coaching set-up, is believed to have been offered a three-year deal from the end of the Super Rugby season.
Smith's desire to leave Hazelwood was revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on December 14 but the Exiles confirmed today the former England backs coach has left the club with immediate effect.
Day to day affairs will be taken care of by forwards coach Glenn Delaney until the end of the season with the help of backs coach Richard Whiffin and skills coach Mark Tainton.