Rugby: Ulster confirm new coaching set-up for 2025/26 season
Ulster have confirmed their new Senior Men’s coaching team for next season, with Mark Sexton and Willie Faloon joining the setup for the 2025/26 campaign.
Both coaches will form part of the coaching team alongside Head Coach Richie Murphy, Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy and Dan Soper, in his new role as Development and Transition Coach.
Sexton joins the province to lead the attack after years of service at Connacht Rugby, where he started off in the Academy as an Elite Development Officer before working with Murphy as Skills and Assistant Attack Coach for the back-to-back Grand Slam winning Ireland U20s side.
The younger brother of one of Irish rugby’s most decorated players, Johnny, the Dubliner has over a decade of coaching experience, firstly working with St Mary’s College RFC and Leinster U19s before pursuing his coaching badges.
Faloon joins the coaching set-up on a permanent basis as the province’s new Defence and Contact Skills Coach.
The Armagh man is well known to Ulster Rugby supporters, having played for the province and later working in the Ulster Rugby Academy as an Elite Development Officer. He also had Head Coach experience with City of Armagh RFC and Ireland U20s.
Soper will begin the new season in his new role as the province’s Development and Transition Coach. His main objective will be maximising the individual development of all players with a particular focus on the younger talent already in the Senior squad and the successful transition of Academy graduates.
“Mark and Willie will be great additions to the coaching team here at Ulster Rugby," said Richie Murphy.
“Knowing Mark from our time together in the Irish Under 20 setup, I could see first-hand that he is a talented young coach who knows how to drive an attack.
“He has built up a great reputation at Connacht and we are getting a hungry coach who is excited to work with the talent we have here.
“Willie Faloon is also a very talented coach with a growing reputation in the game. He’s a good example of someone coming up through the Ulster coaching pathway and we look forward to seeing what impact he can make on the team,” Murphy added.
“We are delighted to be securing a coach of Mark’s calibre into the coaching team here at Ulster," said Ulster General Manager Bryn Cunningham.
“Mark comes with a fantastic reputation as an exciting young coach from his work at Connacht and the Irish U20s, with a strong understanding of how to build and implement an attacking blueprint.
“In our conversations, it’s clear we are all very aligned in the direction we want to go forward with this team, and we are looking forward to welcoming Mark into the group.
“Willie is a well-known face around Ulster Rugby with his excellent work in the Academy. He is another exciting young coach who is ready for that step up after showcasing his credentials with City of Armagh RFC and the Ireland U20s.
“Dan Soper's role is new and extremely important for our strategy. With a young team, our future success will be determined by how well we can develop our players.
“In this role we now have a coach fully focused on maximising the potential of our up-and-coming talent, and there are few coaches with a better track record of nurturing young players in Ulster than Dan.”
Ulster Rugby Senior Men’s Coaching team 2025/26:
Head Coach: Richie Murphy
Forwards Coach: Jimmy Duffy
Backs Coach: Mark Sexton
Defence and Contact Skills Coach: Willie Faloon
Development and Transition Coach: Dan Soper
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