Defence coach Murphy joins Wales Women

The Welsh Rugby Union is excited to announce Dan Murphy, the Gloucester/Hartpury coach, has been drafted in as defence coach for the Wales Women’s Six Nations campaign.

Murphy is part of new Wales head coach Sean Lynn’s title-winning coaching team at Gloucester/Hartpury in the PWR. He is the Gloucester/Hartpury scrum coach but his remit with Wales will be as defence coach for the forthcoming Six Nations.

Murphy will join the coaching team of attack coach Shaun Connor and forwards coach Mike Hill, for the campaign.

He has worked in the women’s game in Wales and previously had a spell as part of Liza Burgess’ Wales Women’s U20s coaching team.

A former Gloucester, London Irish and Harlequins prop, Murphy was part of Lynn’s coaching team that won three successive PWR titles with Gloucester-Hartpury.

The pair have worked together in the university rugby pathway programme at Hartpury, where Murphy is now the lead coach for the BUCs Super Rugby Men’s side and is in charge of the team’s defence.

Murphy  said: “The opportunity to coach Test match rugby and to work alongside Sean was too good to turn down. I know what a passionate Welshman he is and how excited he is to be the Wales Head coach, and to be a part of his and the team’s journey and to experience a Six Nations campaign is something I am relishing.

“We have enjoyed real success at Gloucester-Hartpury and knowing the Welsh internationals we have at the club will give us a head start.  But that success has always been down to the players and how hard they are willing to work for the team and each other.”

Wales head coach, Sean Lynn, said: “Dan is somebody I know well and have worked with at Gloucester-Hartpury. He has been a key part of our success and has a reputation for working hard and demanding the same from the players.

“His background as a professional player helps drive standards and he has a team and players first approach.”

Murphy joined Wales after the Prem final and will be part of the coaching team to face Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday.