FORMER LEICESTER AND Bath winger Steve Booth has died at the age of 42.

Both clubs expressed their shock and sadness at the loss of their former player, who was renowned for his colourful boots, eye-catching hairstyles and, above all else, exhilarating style of play out wide.

Leicester head coach Geordan Murphy, who played alongside Booth during their respective Tigers careers, described his former team-mate as “a real entertainer on the pitch”.

“Steve was a big personality in a dressing room full of big personalities,” the former Ireland international said on Leicester’s official website.

“We were shocked to hear of his passing and, on behalf of everyone at Tigers, pass on condolences to his partner and their family and friends.”

The Pontefract-born Booth played rugby league with Huddersfield and Doncaster before converting to the 15-man code in the summer of 2000.