Former Greystones out-half Richie Murphy has been appointed Kicking Coach to the Ireland Rugby team
October 2013
Richie Murphy says he is “delighted and honoured” to have been appointed Kicking Coach to the Ireland Rugby team.
Speaking exclusively to the Wicklow Voice, the former Greystones Out-half said he relishing the challenge ahead as Ireland take on Samao, Australia and New Zealand in a daunting series of Autumn internationals.
“I was delighted when I got the call to join the new set-up with the Ireland team,” Richie says.
“Obviously, having worked with (Ireland coach) Joe Schmidt over the last few years at Leinster helped, but it is a true honour and privilege to work with Ireland.
“My main focus remains Leinster and I will have to find a way around to work both, but hopefully I can bring something extra to the national squad too.
“I’ve worked closely with out- halves Johnny Sexton and Ian Madigan at Leinster but haven’t worked with Paddy Jackson at all, so I will have to get to know him over the November games.”
When asked about Ireland’s chances against New Zealand on November 24, he said that “Joe Schmidt has brought a massive feel-good factor into the squad and that the enthusiasm could very well carry through to a win over New Zealand.”
Richie was appointed Senior Skills and Kicking Coach at Leinster in June 2010 and previously held the position of Rugby Development Officer and elite Player Development Officer where he oversaw the province’s underage development programme.
The ex-Leinster out-half was educated in Presentation College, Bray, where he captained his school to the 1990 Leinster Schools Junior Cup, scoring all his sides points in the 9-6 win over Wesley College, in a game, he says, was his greatest moment in rugby on a personal level.
“The greatest moment professionally was when we (Leinster) won the Heineken Cup in 2009 for the first time,” he adds.
When asked over the current wrangle over the future of the Heineken Cup, he replied “Whatever format European rugby takes, it cannot forgotten how important it is for rugby in Ireland. The standard in the Pro12 League is great but the step-up to Heineken brings another dimension which is a massive driving force for the national team.”
The 38-year-old has been working with the senior Leinster squad for the last number of years as Skills and Kicking Coach and has played a key role in the development of such home-grown kicking talent as Jonathan Sexton, Fergus McFadden and Ian Madigan.
Richie has been an important part of the backroom team for the province’s Heineken cup successes in 2009, 2011 and 2012. his previous AIL clubs include Greystones, Clontarf, Carlow and Old Belvedere.
