Murphy steps up at Leicester

Editor

Geordan Murphy will work as attack coach at Leicester until the end of the season in place of the departed Paul Burke.

Geordan Murphy will work as attack coach at Leicester until the end of the season in place of the departed Paul Burke.

The Tigers parted company with Burke a fortnight ago but will not bring in a new coach until the off-season.

And while Burke was in charge of Leicester’s attack, the new face to come in is set to be a head coach, more as a replacement for Matt O’Connor, who left to take over at Leinster before last season.

Murphy, the former Ireland full-back, was already part of the coaching team, and has now stepped up since Burke’s departure.

“We have scored 10 tries in a week so Geordy is doing pretty well,” director of rugby Richard Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury.

“He gets the best out of people and has a good manner about him. The last week has been really good to get him integrated into that role.

“As for looking for a long-term appointment, we are looking for a head coach.

“We need to move on with our attack and we need new ideas. We need to freshen up what we are doing and it is my job to find that person.

“I am a hooker who knows lots about the game – but not attack. We don’t need to reinvent what we are doing and we need to keep what is good about Leicester, and what we have been doing culturally and historically.

“But we need fresh ideas and we will get outside influence in to do that.”