A try-scorer on his Tigers debut at Gloucester on the opening day of the 2008/09 season, Flood became the first player to top the club’s points-scoring in his first campaign since Dusty Hare in 1976/77.
Injury in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Cardiff ended his season early and ruled him out of the start of the 2009/10 term.
Toby made his England debut as a replacement during November 2006 and a year later was running out to play in a Rugby World Cup Final. From the experience of France, he returned to finish the season with hometown club Newcastle Falcons before sealing a move to Welford Road.
Toby had progressed from Northumberland clubs Alnwick and Morpeth to win representative honours with England 18 Group, England Students and England Under-21s, and then making the grade as a professional and senior Test cap.
He scored a drop goal and two penalties on his Newcastle debut as a 19-year-old in the 29-28 victory over London Wasps in February 2005 and can also claim a last-minute winning penalty against Tigers during 2006/07.
Called up to make his Test debut as a replacement for Charlie Hodgson against Argentina in November 2006, Toby also answered the call for the 2007 World Cup squad when clubmate Jamie Noon was ruled out. He played as a replacement against Australia, France and in the final against South Africa.
He scored England’s opening try of the 2008 RBS 6 Nations against Wales and added another in the following game against Italy, going on to retain his place in the new-look England Elite squad for 2008/09.