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'He's going through a legal process at the minute... I hope he gets everything he is owed'
It’s nearly two weeks now since the latest off-field drama unfolded at struggling Leicester, Geordan Murphy stepping away from his director of rugby role at the Premiership club following 23 years of service that began as a player in the late 1990s.
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The Irishman, who joined as a trialist in 1997 before working his way up the playing ranks, had become director of rugby in July with the arrival of Steve Borthwick to inherit the head coach position Murphy had filled since the 2018 sacking of Matt O’Connor.
Leicester’s form under Borthwick in the restarted 2019/20 Premiership wasn’t good results-wise, Tigers only winning two of their nine matches. However, they started the new 2020/21 season with a home win last Saturday over Gloucester.
That positive first outing without Murphy having any involvement at the club for the first time in 23 years didn’t stop The Rugby Pod from expressing its sadness that Leicester have cut ties with a loyal servant.
Andy Goode, the ex-Leicester out-half who hosts the show with Jim Hamilton, another former Tiger, wants the situation to now get settled amicably with the club paying up what Murphy is due on his contract rather than haggling about the situation.
Great to have Big Jim back this week as we chat England v Ireland, check in with Fijian powerhouse @nemani_nadolo and round up the latest Premiership action over on our YouTube channel!
Get it down ya?https://t.co/C7py4u4IYC@AndyGoode10 @jimhamilton4
— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) November 24, 2020
Speaking about the sudden November 13 departure of Murphy from Leicester, Goode said: “It boils down to the fact that Geordan’s contract was coming up at the end of the season and he was waiting for a conversation. He said, ‘Listen, contract is up at the end of the year, what’s happening? What are your plans? Am I involved long term? Steve Borthwick has come in.
“There has been huge changes at that club. The CEO has changed, Simon Cohen has left. There is big changes on the board. We saw Rory Underwood leave a few weeks ago as well. Geordan asked the question and in reality they have said to him, ‘We’re not looking to extend your contract’.
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“Geordan has put 23 years of unbelievable service into that club be it as a player, as a kid coming through to captain it, winning all the trophies that he did, and then moving into the coaching department and earning his stripes there. He called himself a professional cone collector to start off with but he learned and built to eventually be the guy that took over as director of rugby and it’s tough on him.
“Let’s not put all of the issues Leicester have had at Geordan’s door because I don’t think many of them could be attributed to him. A lot of it has been the recruitment, the quality of player that has left and not been replaced and where they have gone with their recruitment. That wasn’t anything to do with Geordan.
“I’m speaking as a very good mate so obviously I’m going to defend him slightly. but when you asked a question, which he did, about extending his contract and the club say we are in tough financial times as well, do they want a director of rugby and a head coach at the club, both earning good wages? Well, you have seen the answer so they are not going to extend it and they agreed to part company.
“It’s a real shame for Geordan that he doesn’t get some sort of send off but once they made that decision as a club to say, look we’re not going to extend your contract, what impact could he have on the club this year when everyone that is making those decisions probably knew that anything he said wouldn’t have a long lasting weight behind it because they are seeing he is leaving.
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“It’s a massive shame. I think he is going through a legal process at the minute, how much he gets paid out. I hope he gets everything he is owed because that would be the only way of kind of thanking him for the 23 years of service. He has got a contract, a year left – don’t negotiate Leicester, just pay him what he is owed for that, shake hands and you walk away.
“We saw Cockers [Richard Cockerill] did a wonderful job at Leicester but he left. There is a lot of people who have worked tirelessly at that club, loved that club, but sometimes you need a change and Geordan will be the first to admit that his tenure as director of rugby and head coach had been difficult where they finished in the league.
“I don’t hold him responsible for a lot of that because the players he has had were as good as what he had and that’s why they finished where they did in the league (eleventh two seasons in succession).”
Hamilton added: “That is the hardest thing about it, his legacy. As a player he is one of the best in the northern hemisphere that we have ever seen… he’s such a legend for Leicester. The club has just been on the decline and he has been picking up the pieces for year on year on year. It’s sad he is gone.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments