Murphy tinkering with thoughts of retirement

GEORDAN MURPHY admits he is likely to retire from international rugby before next year’s Six Nations.

The full-back made two appearances during Ireland’s run to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, his 71st and 72nd for his country. But the 33-year-old says he is leaning towards giving up international rugby in order to concentrate on captaining Leicester Tigers.

And although Murphy is set to depart the international stage, he believes that the likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara will continue to make themselves available for Declan Kidney – although he has doubts as to how many will still be around for the next World Cup, in England in 2015.