Conor Murray: Staying at Munster a no-brainer
With Munster’s European hopes hanging by a thread following a home defeat to Leicester at Thomond Park last Saturday, their third loss in succession during a dismal run of form this month, Murray yesterday gave the province’s supporters a much-needed lift by saying his contract talks were ongoing with the IRFU over a new central deal but he hoped to be able to continue playing for “a great club”.
Murray first burst into the senior set-up while still an academy player under Tony McGahan, in the spring of 2011, winning that season’s Munster Academy Player of the Year award. His rise through the ranks ahead of seasoned internationals Peter Stringer and Tomas O’Leary continued at national level, Murray winning his first Test cap in a World Cup warm-up against France that summer and making such an impression on Ireland boss Declan Kidney, that he earned a place in the 2011 World Cup squad.
