Johne Murphy leaves pro ranks to focus on home front

At the relatively tender age of 30, Johne Murphy has called a halt on a professional rugby career that reaped great rewards, but he will remain within the sport to hone the skills of up-and-coming players.

After his departure from Munster recently, Murphy had several options that included more than one in France. Following much deliberation, he said yesterday, the best of those options was to stay at home, concentrate on other possibilities within the sport and also take into consideration the future career of his schoolteacher wife Kate.

Murphy, from Rathangan in County Kildare, enjoyed spells with top English side Leicester Tigers as well as Munster, winning plenty of accolades and trophies along the way.