Murphy named Gloucester-Hartpury head of rugby
Three-time Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury have appointed Dan Murphy as their head of rugby for the 2025-26 season.Murphy has worked as scrum coach at the club for the past four seasons and steps up following Sean Lynn's departure this spring for the Wales head coach role.Former prop Murphy made 91 appearances for Gloucester during his playing career and also represented London Irish and Harlequins before retiring in 2022."It's an absolute honour to take charge and help [the team] kick on further after a very successful few years," Murphy, 39, said."To work with those women who are so driven, so determined. I'm in awe of them sometimes and it's an absolute privilege to be able to lead them."Lynnie [Sean Lynn] always spoke about inspiring the community and I believe we did that by winning the three-peat. But now it's about capitalising on that, creating, building and finding the next act for The Circus."
Gloucester-Hartpury have become the dominant force in English women's rugby during Lynn's tenure, surging to a third consecutive league title in March when they beat Saracens in Lynn's final game. Murphy - who has been part of the staff for all three titles - began his coaching career with Championship side Hartpury while still playing and this April led Hartpury University's men's team to their first BUCS Super Rugby title in six years.He was then seconded to Wales women to work as their defence coach during the recent Six Nations campaign alongside Lynn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
44 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
History nut Heyes eyeing place on Argentina tour
The Leicester Tigers prop loves swotting up on destinations he visits and has no shortage of information to get stuck into this summer. Securing a spot on the plane is the first challenge but Heyes appears well set to do just that after featuring off the bench in each of England's Six Nations matches earlier this year. The 26-year-old said: "I'm madly passionate about history. I google the most ridiculous things and go from there. "I went on holiday to Tenerife, and I was sitting by the pool and just stuck in the Wikipedia hole about the place. I learnt that it was used as a Spanish shipping station to get to the Americas. "I will absolutely be researching before I go to Argentina. My favourite part of Argentine history is the Age of Discovery when Europeans first arrived and explored South America, establishing towns and cities." Heyes played an essential role off the bench behind Will Stuart in the Six Nations and now looks set to benefit from the Bath star's selection in the British & Irish Lions squad touring Australia. The Tigers front-rower even got on the scoresheet in the 68-14 win over Wales at Principality Stadium, his first international try, and hopes to add to his 17 caps this summer. The Rest Is History podcast fan will know all about conflicts between England and France in the past and the latest comes on the Allianz Stadium turf on June 21 before they head over the Atlantic. "I was really happy with the way things went in the Six Nations," Heyes said. "I got the taste of Test match rugby, and I obviously want more of it. "We've got a good challenge coming in Argentina and America, and France before that, so I'm excited. Hopefully if I'm selected to get the shirt on and play." Heyes' domestic commitments are not done yet, however, with his Leicester side welcoming Sale Sharks to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the play-offs on Saturday. The prop tasted success with the East Midlands outfit when they won the league in 2022 and he has his sights set on repeating the feat. "We've treated nearly every game like a Prem final because it has been really, as it's been so tight at the top,' he said. 'There have been some properly tough games. "There have also been a few jokes with the Sale lads about when we beat Sharks at Welford Road. We're happy with playing in Leicester and we can't wait for it.' England XV face France XV at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 21 June at 3:15pm. Tickets from £25, please visit
South Wales Argus
44 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Seb Atkinson credits England call-up to 'freedom' at Gloucester
Seb Atkinson believes the 'freedom' he has been given by Gloucester's coaches this season has been key to his first senior England call-up. Atkinson has had a brilliant season for the Cherry & Whites and was one of 14 uncapped players in a recent training squad assembled by Steve Borthwick ahead of this summer's tour of Argentina and USA. The centre's stock has been rising for a while, having made his senior debut for Worcester in 2021, and he hopes to crown it with an international debut this summer. "You never expect a call-up, but I'm really proud," he said. 'Credit to the team and the coaching staff at Gloucester for what they've done this year. "They've given us the freedom and the exposure for me to play the way that I feel I play best, so cheers to them and hopefully I can keep moving forwards. "We had some dark times last year where people were frustrated, we weren't performing the way that we felt that we could, but credit to the coaches. "They gave us the opportunity to express ourselves and play freely. With the squad that we've got we've really taken that into our own hands this year and played some enjoyable rugby." Join us at @allianz_stad as England XV take on France XV 👊 Get your tickets now 👇 — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) May 23, 2025 The Bromsgrove native has taken the freedom and run with it, ranking top in carries, tackles, passes, and post-contact metres and second in total metres, line break assists, and try assists among Premiership centres this campaign. He also broke Beauden Barrett's 'bronco' test world record earlier this season, clocking in at four minutes and eight seconds. "I guess I can verify it," the centre said. "We did one during the Six Nations training block. I wasn't expecting that time at all. "Our training had been pushing us to a level where I was able to achieve that, but I still surprised myself by a good 20 seconds or so." The coming tour to the Americas, which is preceded by a clash with a France XV on June 21, could be Atkinson's springboard into a long and impressive international career if he transfers his domestic performance into an England shirt. Steve Borthwick knows how important these tours can be and has identified Argentina as an opportunity for players to put their hand up. "The example you'd use would be 2017,' he said. 'Players emerged in that series against Argentina and really staked their claim two years out from the World Cup and became really important, influential players for England at the 2019 World Cup. "I have no doubt there will be players who emerge and stake their claim this summer, and say 'I want to be part of that team in 2027'. I'm looking forward to that. The enthusiasm, the energy and the excitement they bring is really, really impressive." England XV face France XV at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 21 June at 3:15pm. Tickets from £25, please visit
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Seb Atkinson credits England call-up to 'freedom' at Gloucester
Seb Atkinson of England during a training session at Pennyhill Park on May 21, 2025 in Bagshot, England. (Image: Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Seb Atkinson believes the 'freedom' he has been given by Gloucester's coaches this season has been key to his first senior England call-up. Atkinson has had a brilliant season for the Cherry & Whites and was one of 14 uncapped players in a recent training squad assembled by Steve Borthwick ahead of this summer's tour of Argentina and USA. The centre's stock has been rising for a while, having made his senior debut for Worcester in 2021, and he hopes to crown it with an international debut this summer. "You never expect a call-up, but I'm really proud," he said. 'Credit to the team and the coaching staff at Gloucester for what they've done this year. "They've given us the freedom and the exposure for me to play the way that I feel I play best, so cheers to them and hopefully I can keep moving forwards. "We had some dark times last year where people were frustrated, we weren't performing the way that we felt that we could, but credit to the coaches. "They gave us the opportunity to express ourselves and play freely. With the squad that we've got we've really taken that into our own hands this year and played some enjoyable rugby." Join us at @allianz_stad as England XV take on France XV 👊 Get your tickets now 👇 — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) May 23, 2025 The Bromsgrove native has taken the freedom and run with it, ranking top in carries, tackles, passes, and post-contact metres and second in total metres, line break assists, and try assists among Premiership centres this campaign. He also broke Beauden Barrett's 'bronco' test world record earlier this season, clocking in at four minutes and eight seconds. "I guess I can verify it," the centre said. "We did one during the Six Nations training block. I wasn't expecting that time at all. "Our training had been pushing us to a level where I was able to achieve that, but I still surprised myself by a good 20 seconds or so." The coming tour to the Americas, which is preceded by a clash with a France XV on June 21, could be Atkinson's springboard into a long and impressive international career if he transfers his domestic performance into an England shirt. Steve Borthwick knows how important these tours can be and has identified Argentina as an opportunity for players to put their hand up. "The example you'd use would be 2017,' he said. 'Players emerged in that series against Argentina and really staked their claim two years out from the World Cup and became really important, influential players for England at the 2019 World Cup. "I have no doubt there will be players who emerge and stake their claim this summer, and say 'I want to be part of that team in 2027'. I'm looking forward to that. The enthusiasm, the energy and the excitement they bring is really, really impressive." England XV face France XV at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 21 June at 3:15pm. Tickets from £25, please visit
