Munster confirm Jimmy Duffy as new forwards coach

Jimmy Duffy will replace Alex Codling, who is departing Munster for French Top 14 club Toulon. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Munster have confirmed Jimmy Duffy as their new forwards coach ahead of the 2026-27 season on a two-year deal, with Clayton McMillan highlighting the former Ulster assistant’s ability to develop young players as one of the assets he will bring to his coaching ticket.

Munster are also expected to announced a new attack coach in the coming days but are understood to be excited by their appointment of the well-regarded Duffy, who has had stints with his native Connacht, Australia’s Western Force, Ireland Under-20s, Tonga and most recently Ulster, whom he departed at the end of the season to be closer to his family in their Galway home.

“Jimmy is an excellent addition to our coaching team,” head coach McMillan said. “He has proven himself as a quality coach with teams across the URC, Super Rugby and the Ireland U20s.

“He comes with a glowing reputation for developing players and driving high standards and accountability. When we spoke, I was impressed with Jimmy’s sense of purpose, his attention to detail and work ethic.

“I have no doubt he has the tools to drive us forward and I look forward to working alongside him next season.” 

A former Connacht, Ireland U21, Ireland A and Barbarians lock whose playing career was cut short at age 21 for medical reasons, Duffy will replace Alex Codling, who is departing Munster for French Top 14 club Toulon.

Codling’s chief area of expertise was the lineout having replaced Andi Kyriacou, initially on secondment from Ireland Women, in November 2024 with former Ireland hooker and Munster provincial talent coach Seán Cronin coaching the senior team’s scrum this past season.

Munster have handed Duffy both lineout and scrum coaching remits with Cronin return to his Provincial Talent Coach role and given additional responsibility as Pathway Scrum Coach, with responsibility for “the individual development of emerging front row forwards” and delivering a scrum programme throughout the emerging talent system.

Duffy was a Connacht assistant under Pat Lam in the westerners’ 2016 PRO12 title campaign, having previously been head coach of the province’s U20s. He was also on Richie Murphy’s coaching ticket which guided the Ireland U20s to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022 before joining Super Rugby’s Western Force later that year as forwards coach.

Duffy reunited with Murphy at Ulster two years later and has been credited with playing an important role in developing the province’s forward talent, with lock/flanker Comrac Izuchukwu making his Ireland debut and back-rower Bryn Ward called into Andy Farrell’s senior squad on his watch while props Sam Crean and Scott Wilson, locks Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine and back-rower James McNabney all recognised with either Ireland A or XV squad selections.

Munster have their own crop of exciting young forwards, with back-rowers Brian Gleeson and Ruadhan Quinn and locks Edwin Edogbo and Evan O’Connell already in the senior squad. Hooker Max Clein, flanker Seán Edogbo, and prop Ronan Foxe are set to graduate from the academy to the senior squad for next season while it was announced this week that lock/flanker Michael Foy will take the same route ahead of the 2027/28 campaign and Duffy recognised the emerging talent he will be coaching from this summer.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Munster Rugby and I'm excited for the challenge ahead,” Duffy said. “There is a great deal of potential at the club and I'm looking forward to working with the players and staff over the coming seasons."

Munster general manager Ian Costello said: “We are delighted to have secured a coach of Jimmy’s calibre ahead of next season.

“Throughout this process he demonstrated a real passion for driving the identity and DNA of the forward pack and his expertise in developing and improving young forwards makes him a perfect fit with so many exciting young players coming through the system.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Seán Cronin for the excellent work he did with the senior team last season.

"I am excited about the impact he will have on developing and delivering a scrum programme for the promising talent we have coming through our pathway.” If Richie Murphy’s tribute to Duffy’s impact at Ulster, offered when the northern province announced his departure in March, are any guide, Munster’s forwards will be in good hands.

The Ulster head coach said his forwards coach had been "vital" to the province's revival this season.

"He has been important for the progression and development of our players," Murphy added. "He is an excellent coach with wealth of experience, and I wish him and his family all the best for the future."