Stamford School Welcomes Rugby Legends Geordan Murphy and Eugene Martin to Lead a New Era

Stamford School is proud to announce the appointment of Geordan Murphy as Director of Rugby Performance and Eugene Martin as Head of Rugby, marking a bold new chapter for its renowned rugby programme.

From August 2025, Murphy, former Ireland international and Director of Rugby at Leicester Tigers, will lead performance development across the school, supporting student pathways into elite sport and nurturing a passion for rugby at every level.

With a record-breaking career - 322 appearances for Leicester Tigers, 72 Ireland caps, eight Premiership titles, and two European Cups- Murphy brings unparalleled expertise and a commitment to mentoring the next generation.

“I’m thrilled to join Stamford and help shape a high-performance culture that builds confidence, resilience, and enjoyment through sport,” said Murphy.

Eugene Martin, a well-respected figure in the Stamford community and a former professional player, steps into the role of Head of Rugby. He will deliver his outstanding technical coaching across the school and administer the Stamford rugby programme, with a continued focus on academy and national development pathways.

Interim Principal Mark Steed commented, “Rugby has long been at the heart of Stamford School, and these appointments reaffirm our ambition to provide world-class coaching and opportunities for all students.”

These two outstanding appointments align with Stamford Sport’s wider strategy to deliver elite coaching across disciplines. Murphy’s appointment complements the continuation of England cricket legend Matthew Hoggard as Guest Coach in our cricket programme; Alex Wood-Davis as Director of Netball, a former England international with 48 caps; and Duncan Buckmaster, Director of Hockey, who has over 15 years of experience as a performance coach at England and GB Hockey.

Mr Steed continues, “What unites all our sports leaders is not only their world-class sporting pedigree, but their shared commitment to character, mentorship, and giving back. At Stamford, sport is about more than winning—it’s about inspiring excellence with integrity".