Racing 92 pour cold water on possible move for Conor Murray

By John Fallon

Racing 92 have poured cold water on a possible move to sign Conor Murray when his IRFU expires after the World Cup next year.

Murray, currently battling with an unspecified neck injury, was photographed recently in Paris with Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan, prompting speculation that he might his former Munster teammates to Racing 92.

Zebo posted the photograph of the three players on his social media platforms under the hashtag ‘recruitment’, but Racing’s new sporting director, former French flanker Yannick Nyanga, yesterday said there were no moves in place to bring Murray to Paris.

Nyanga, who took up his new role after retiring following the Champions Cup final defeat to Leinster in May, said they would love to have a player of Murray’s quality in their ranks.

But Nyanga, speaking at the launch of the Champions Cup for French clubs in Toulouse yesterday morning, said they were well covered for scrum-halves at the moment.

We have two great scrum-halves in Max Machenaud and Teddy Iribaren. We also have Xavier Chauveau, a player coming from the academy who is in the process of becoming a player in the first team, also some other great No.9s who are coming through in the academy.

“So, for the moment, it is not a question about Conor Murray. Of course, he is a great player, and if he wants to come into Racing then we will listen to him but it is not a priority for us at the moment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nyanga said that Zebo is in a race to be fit to make his Champions Cup debut for Racing against Scarlets on October 13.

Zebo, who is joint top try scorer in the Top 14 with five, missed their derby win over Stade Francais with a leg muscle injury.

“We are hoping he will be ready for this weekend against Lyon in the Top 14 and if not, that he will be fit for the opening game of the Champions Cup. We won’t take any risks with him this weekend because we want him ready for the Champions Cup so we will see how he is during the week,” he added.