Top Catt tells Exiles: Savour the moment

ENGLAND veteran Mike Catt has told his London Irish team-mates to savour every moment of their Twickenham experience tomorrow when they run out for the Premiership final against Leicester.

The 37-year-old fly-half makes an emotional return to the home of English rugby as an assistant coach to Exiles chief Toby Booth.

And he insists turning out at Twickenham for Saturday’s final will be every bit as special as his first visit, for England, back in 1994. “I’ve had a career spanning 16 years,” Catt explained. “I’ve been in a couple of World Cup finals and you need to make sure you take your opportunity.

“But it’s absolutely enjoying that moment as well. The guys will learn so much from being at Twickenham.”

The Exiles earned their place in the final after an impressive 17-0 semi-final success over Harlequins, and Catt insists his free-scoring side fully deserve their big day out in front of a sell-out Twickenham crowd.

“It’s one of those things you dream about,” he added. “The difference is 16 years ago I couldn’t believe we’d got there. Now I expect us to be there because of all the hard work we’ve put in and the players we’ve got.

“I’m excited and who knows what’ll happen. Sport’s a funny thing.”

Meanwhile, Tigers and England back row Tom Croft says he would jump at the chance of a Lions call-up this summer.

The 23-year-old is many people’s choice to replace suspended Alan Quinlan, and admitted: “If I get the call it would be massive.”