Geordan Murphy has been sacked by Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers have parted company with Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy. After a calamitous season in 2019/20, Murphy had been moved to the position of Director of Rugby, with Steve Borthwick taking over the role of head coach.

The club revealed yesterday evening that former England star Rory Underwood had stood down from his role as a non-executive member of the board after 13 years. Underwood is understood to have been against the sacking of Murphy and has left his role on the board as a result.

In a statement on the matter the club said: "After discussions with Murphy about his current contract, which was due to end at the conclusion of the 2020/21 season, it was decided that it would not be renewed and, by mutual consent, it was agreed that Murphy would leave the club with immediate effect.

As a youth, Murphy joined the Tigers, making his senior debut in 1997, and proceeded to make 322 appearances in 16 seasons, including four years as captain of the club.

Murphy went into coaching after retirement in 2013, having won eight Premiership and two European titles, and rose through the ranks as skills coach, back coach, attack coach, head coach, and rugby director.

He is Leicester's top European rugby try-scorer and appearance holder and is 17th on the chart of the club's all-time tryscorers.

Speaking about his time at the club, the outgoing Director of Rugby said: “First, I want to thank my wife Aneka and my two boys, and our new addition on the way, for everything they have done for me and how they have continued to make me a better player, coach and person.

“As well as my family here in Leicester, and all of our friends, I want to thank my family and friends in Ireland for their support throughout my career at Tigers as a player and coach in the good and bad times.

“I have spent 23 great years at Leicester Tigers and forged great friendships with people throughout that entire period.

“I’m most proud of the respect I earned from my team-mates and colleagues, and I’m grateful to all of them for how they have helped me, supported me and shared in my time at this club.

“Winning has been the easy part. It is when things are not going well, when you are losing and having to get back up every day and put on a brave face, that you know who your friends are and, to all of those who supported me through those times, those are the friends I will have for life.

“I wish the club the very best for the future on and off the pitch, and say thank you to the supporters who have been a part of my life for more than 20 years.”

Last week the club parted company with another club stalwart, Boris Stankovich.

Stankovich, who made more than 100 appearances for Tigers during seven years as a player in Leicester, returned to the club midway through the 2016/17 season on a short-term contract before taking on a full-time role as scrum coach ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

The former Tigers front-rower first joined the club in 2007 and played a part in three successful Premiership campaigns and an Anglo-Welsh Cup win in 2012 before departing in 2014.