In what has been a meteoric rise up the coaching ladder, former Brumbies Prop Ruaidhri Murphy has joined our coaching ranks for the 2019 season, taking the reins at scrum time as part of Dan Mckellar’s staff.
Despite only retiring in 2016, due to complications from a finger injury, Murphy’s resume already boasts roles as forwards coach with the Brumbies U20’s, Gungahlin Eagles, Canberra Vikings and Junior Wallabies as well as a successful stint as Head Coach for the Brumbies U19’s.
Murphy joins the staff and will form a Scrum coaching double-act with Dan Palmer, with the fellow former Brumbies bookend staying involved as a consultant while Murphy is away with the Junior Wallabies.
“Coaching started for me as a way to stay involved in the game, but I found I really enjoyed it so just kept taking opportunities when they came up, “Murphy said.
“The season I had with the Canberra Vikings doing the forwards particularly made me really start to think of coaching as something I wanted to do full-time.”
The Brumbies boast perhaps the most impressive stock of props in Australia for 2019, with Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper all signed up for next season, not to mention local product Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin who will no doubt have a crucial role to play next year.
Though that’s a healthy choice of weaponry for the Brumbies new scrum attack, Murphy’s role will not be only centred on getting the best out of the Brumbies star-core.
“For guys like Scotty and All, they mostly need info from me, they’re experience campaigners and just need guidance and intel on opposition, “Murphy explained.
“Part of my challenge will be to help bring along guys like Tom [Ross], Vuni [Fifita], helping to get the best out the young guys who are coming through the pipeline.”
