Murphy named Gloucester-Hartpury head of rugby

Dan Murphy temporarily joined Wales' women's coaching staff for the recent Six Nations

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.