Leicester Tigers appoint Geordan Murphy as head coach despite poor recent results

Leicester Tigers have appointed Geordan Murphy as the new head coach of the Gallagher Premiership despite a dismal run this season.

Murphy, who played for the Tigers between 1997 and 2013 before joining the Welford Road unit as assistant coach was handed in charge of the club on interim basis when Matt O'Connor was sacked after the first game of the season.

The Tigers are surely having a tough time this season that saw them succumb to eighth successive defeat that has ended their Champions Cup hopes while they are at eighth in the Gallagher Premiership table after managing just three wins from six games.

“It is a huge honour to be asked to be head coach at a club I know so well,” said Murphy, whose contract with the club has not been disclosed.

“This club means a lot to me, I’ve been here a long time and we all want to enjoy success with the Tigers.

“For me, performances on the field begin with the pride, passion and commitment you want to see from a Leicester Tigers team. It is about that passion for the shirt.

“A Leicester Tigers team is built around the beliefs of working hard for each other, everyone being a team player and also about having a real intent and integrity about what we do. These are base-level principles. That is what passion on the field looks like to me."

Murphy now has been associated with the Tigers for 21 years both as a player and a coach. The Welford Road unit also confirmed that they looking to close in a new defence coach after conceding 292 points in this Premiership season so far.

“Peter Tom and the Tigers Board have been very supportive of me. They’ve told me that whatever we need, they will support. The coaching team and the players have been very good since I was given the opportunity.

“We’ve had a challenging start to the season and we are working hard to improve performances and results, but this is also the start of a journey for this coaching team and playing group. There is a lot of quality there and we still have everything to play for this season.

“We are looking at how and what we can add to the coaching team in terms of experience and quality, and it has to be the right fit for the team.

“The supporters can play their part on that journey too and we hope they will be with us all the way.”