Kobe Steelers confirm defence coach’s departure to join Wales

League One title contenders Kobe Steelers have confirmed reports that defence coach Peter Murchie will join Wales’ national team at the end of the season.

Dave Rennie’s once-beaten Kobe side handed Saitama Wild Knights their first loss of the campaign on Saturday to move second in the table at the halfway stage of the campaign.

BBC Wales’ Gareth Griffiths reported on Sunday that Wales, whose head coach Steve Tandy has also been handling defensive duties, were set to move for Scot Murchie as their new coaching regime has finally secured a full-time defence coach.

Kobe issued a statement on Tuesday to confirm the former Glasgow coach’s departure in June.

“We are pleased to announce that defence coach Peter Murchie will be taking up the role of defence coach for the Wales national team after the 2025-26 season.

“Peter Murchie has used his extensive coaching experience and high level of expertise to contribute to building the team's defensive system and developing players.

“Although his tenure was only a short one season, we are truly grateful for the contributions he made to the team during that time, and as a team we are proud that he will be taking on a new challenge as part of the coaching staff of a world-class national team.”

Ex-Scotland international Murchie said: “I am really enjoying my time in Kobe, although I will be moving on to international rugby at the end of the season, I will be giving my very best along with the rest of the coaches to continue with the positive start we have had to the season.” 

Courtesy of Kobe Steelers

Kobe are on the verge of sealing a top-six play-off spot and if they finish the 18-game regular season in the top two, will skip the quarter-final stage and go directly into the semi-finals.

The semi-finals will be held on 30 and 31 May at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo with the two beaten teams meeting in the third-place play-off at the same venue on 6 June.  

This year’s final will be held at MUFG Stadium (National stadium) in Tokyo on Sunday 7 June.

It will be a tight turnaround for Wales-bound Murchie with the underperforming national team set to play their first Nations Championship game against Fiji on 4 July at the Cardiff City stadium. 

Kobe Steelers travel to Tokyo to face Graham Rowntree's Urayasu D-Rocks on Saturday. RugbyJP.com will be on location at Komazawa Olympic Sports Park Stadium to provide full match coverage