Ireland A’s Murphy forced to withdraw

PREMIER RUGBY has flexed its muscles to deny Ireland access to Leicester winger Johne Murphy for tomorrow’s A game against England Saxons in Bath (2 pm).

Murphy was an original selection in the Irish squad following discussions and agreement with his club but he had to be withdrawn on the insistence of Premier Rugby whose only agreement for the use of players on occasions outside of dedicated international weekends is with the English RFU.

While Ireland has had to exclude Murphy, the Saxons squad includes two Leicester representatives, Ben Youngs and Geoff Parlings, from a selection made completely from Premiership clubs.