Ex-Scotland full-back Murchie to join Wales as defence coach

Former Glasgow defence coach Peter Murchie will join Wales’ backroom team in time for the inaugural Nations Championship which begins this summer.

Murchie is currently defence coach with Kobelco Kobe Steelers and will take up the role with Steve Tandy’s set-up after the conclusion of the Japanese Rugby League One season in June.

Tandy knows Murchie from his time involved in Scottish rugby, having being one of Gregor Townsend’s assistants from 2020 until last summer.

“It’s great to welcome Pete to the coaching team,” said Tandy.

“He is a really talented coach with a great style and mindset. He’ll be a real asset for us as a group and I can’t wait for him to join us this summer to help shape the squad’s development as we head into the Nations Championship.”

Murchie added: “The opportunity to move into international rugby with Wales, where there are so many exciting competitions on the horizon, was something that me and my family are hugely excited about.

Wales have been operating without a designated defence coach, with Tandy combining the duties alongside his head coach role while being helped on a temporary basis by former Wales flanker Dan Lydiate.

Tandy has only Matt Sherratt and Danny Wilson as permanent members in his current backroom staff.

He has bolstered his management team with Rhys Patchell, Duncan Jones and Paul James on secondment.

Tandy’s work as defence coach for Scotland impressed enough to earn the same role with the British and Irish Lions last summer, so he was expected to tighten things up for Wales when he took the reins last September.

Murchie, a former full-back, won three Scotland caps and made 116 appearances for Glasgow.

He was part of the Warriors’ league-winning side of 2015 and retired at the age of 31 in January 2018 on medical grounds.

The 40-year-old initially cut his coaching teeth with French side Stade Nicois as a player-coach.

He returned to take charge of Ayr, leading them to a league and cup double in 2018-19, before being named head coach of Ayrshire Bulls for the inaugural Super6 campaign.

Murchie joined Glasgow in March 2021 and became the first man to record 100 matches as a coach and player for the club.

Under Murchie, the club’s defence became one of the meanest in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

He was a key figure as Glasgow conceded the fewest tries of any team in the competition across the course of the title-winning 2023-24 season.

Murchie was also part of the Scotland A coaching side in November 2024 before leaving the Warriors to join Kobe Steelers following the end of the 2024-25 season.

WRU director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin said: “We’re delighted to add Pete to the full-time Wales coaching team alongside Steve, Matt and Danny.