Richie Murphy has been announced as the new full-time head coach for Ulster, replacing former coach Dan McFarland, who departed in February. Murphy, the former U-20s Irish head coach, has inked a two-year deal with the province.
Best known for his work with underage Irish teams and his success with younger sides, Murphy notably led Ireland to consecutive U20 Grand Slam titles in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, he secured Six Nations championship victories in 2013 and 2014, along with another Grand Slam win in 2018.
Hugh McCaughey, interim CEO of Ulster Rugby, expressed his satisfaction with Murphy's appointment, stating, "We are delighted at Ulster Rugby to have Richie committed to the province for the next two seasons. Over the past couple of weeks, we have had an insight into what Richie, the coaching staff, and squad have the potential to achieve together, with today’s announcement providing the stability needed for this to continue."
McCaughey highlighted the club's excitement for the future, noting the youth in the squad and the talent emerging through their Player Pathway.
“We are delighted at Ulster Rugby to have Richie committed to the province for the next two seasons.
“Over the past couple of weeks, we have had an insight into what Richie, the coaching staff and squad have the potential to achieve together, with today’s announcement providing the stability needed for this to continue.
“With a young squad and a pipeline of talent coming through our Player Pathway, it’s an exciting time for the club as we look to build the foundations that will set us up for success in the years ahead. Richie has vast experience in developing young players and is ambitious to achieve success, so he is a perfect fit for what we need.”
Richie Murphy expressed his eagerness to continue with Ulster Rugby, thanking the support staff, particularly Bryn Cunningham, for aiding in his transition.
“I’m looking forward to continuing with Ulster after a very enjoyable start to my time with the club. I would like to thank all of the support staff, especially Bryn Cunningham, for helping me settle in.
“Bryn has been a big part of this process, and I would like to thank him for all his efforts in getting us to this point. It’s no secret that I was keen to stay on in the role of Head Coach with the province, as I can see what is building here at Ulster and how I can contribute to growing that in the coming years.
“We have a very talented group at Ulster and, together with a loyal and dedicated supporter base, I’m relishing the opportunity to see what we can all achieve together.”
