Bristol confirm the exit of assistant coach John Muldoon

Bristol boss Pat Lam will lose his right-hand man John Muldoon to Connacht for the 2023/24 season. The pair first worked together when the former Samoan back-rower took over at the Irish province in 2013, going on to enjoy PRO12 glory as head coach and captain respectively three years later. Lam then exited to take charge at Ashton Gate the following year and Muldoon joined him on the coaching staff in 2018 following his retirement from playing.

Now they will go their separate ways again as Muldoon has agreed to return to Connacht to work under Pete Wilkins, who is being promoted to head coach with Andy Friend stepping away at the end of this season.

A Bristol statement read: “Forwards coach John Muldoon will depart Bristol Bears at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign to rejoin Irish province Connacht. Muldoon, who made 320 appearances for Connacht before joining the Bears as the defence coach in 2018, returns to his hometown club as forwards coach ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

“The 40-year-old was appointed forwards coach at the Bears in 2020, helping the club to a maiden European title and a first-place finish in the Gallagher Premiership.”

Lam said: “When I arrived in Connacht in 2013 and began working with John as my captain, it was clear to me that he would be an excellent coach when his playing days were over and in years to come with his passion and love for his home province a possible great homegrown head coach for Connacht Rugby.

“Originally the plan was to join me at Connacht but after moving to Bristol, I was able to bring him into our coaching team in 2018 for his first coaching role. After five years of experience in the Premiership working and developing players from all over the world, I am so pleased he now returns home as an established forwards coach.

“I know all too well how highly respected and regarded he is in Connacht, and I believe he will continue to grow and learn under head coach Pete Wilkins and will add real value to the players, staff and supporters of Connacht.

“John has made a significant impact during his time with the Bears, and we are grateful to him for his hard work and commitment for the last five years. We wish him and Lorna and their young boys Scottie, Lucas and Robbie all the very best for their next exciting chapter back home in Galway.”

Muldoon added: “I’m hugely grateful to Pat and the Lansdown family for giving me the opportunity to begin my coaching career. I have learned so much during my time with the Bears and have met some incredible people along the way.

“We have built our family over here and built some strong relationships on and off the field. I’m excited about what the future holds but there is obviously a tinge of sadness around leaving the Bears. I’m looking forward to signing off my time here with a strong finish to the season.”

In a 2019 RugbyPass interview, Muldoon explained why Lam's coaching methods suited him.  “Thankfully, Pat looked after me with a job. I made a lot of mistakes last year, I’d be the first to admit that, but the way Pat coaches, the way he teaches, the way he appreciates the different types of learning, it’s all about the why.

“Any time we bring in something it’s why we bring it in. He tells the players and explains it to them. For me, as an older player, someone who wanted to be a coach, I really appreciated that instead of some coaches just ramming stuff down your throat with ‘we’re doing this’.

“Pat always explains the why and I appreciate the opportunity he has given me to come over here to cut my teeth at coaching because it’s not the easiest thing to do, to give a player retiring with no experience his very first job in a different country at a club he has never played at.”