Ulster Rugby: Taking Ulster job on interim basis 'pretty easy decision' - Richie Murphy
- Published
Richie Murphy's Ireland Under-20s side remain on course for a third Grand Slam in succession
Ireland Under-20s coach Richie Murphy has said the decision to take up the role of Ulster coach on an interim basis until the end of the season was a "pretty easy" one.
Murphy will take up the post after the conclusion of the Under-20s Six Nations on 15 March.
Ulster's assistant coach Dan Soper will be in charge for their next game against Dragons on 2 March.
Dan McFarland this week stepped down from his position as head coach.
Ulster have lost their last three matches in all competitions, failed to qualify for the last-16 stage of the Investec Champions Cup and have dropped to eighth position in the United Rugby Championship table.
"Well it was a phone call during the week and you know it was a pretty easy decision obviously to try and take up that opportunity but that opportunity is going to come in a couple of weeks' time and I'm fully focused here on what we have to do with the 20s," Murphy told RTE before the start of Friday night's 43-8 win over Wales Under-20s in Cork.
Asked if he would like to occupy the role with Ulster in the long term, Murphy responded: "Yeah exactly I'm a coach so you know working at the top end of the game and in the professional side of it is amazing so it's something I'm looking forward to."
Ireland Under-20s remain on course for a third consecutive Grand Slam after defeating Wales and that is where Murphy says his focus is for the present.
"I'm committed to the lads and we've built a really good team around them.
"For me to walk away at this stage would never have been the right thing to do."