Conor Murray far from done even as time called on Ireland duties

FAR FROM DONE: Conor Murray announced that he will be retiring from Ireland at the end of the Six Nations and leaving Munster at the end of the season to persue another challenge elsewhere before hanging up the boots for good. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Conor Murray isn’t done yet. Not nearly.

The Munster scrum-half was one of three Ireland veterans to announce on Thursday that their Test careers would come to a halt at the end of this Six Nations. Unlike Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy, Murray will play on beyond the summer.

Not with his province. Somewhere further afield.

“We'll see,” he said, after Ireland’s open training session at the Aviva Stadium. “In terms of playing, play another year somewhere, for my family… They’ve been incredible. My wife Joanna, my son Alfie, especially Joanna over the last few years and the sacrifices she's made. So as a family go away and maybe do something for a year and enjoy ourselves for a lifestyle change.

“Body-wise, I still feel great. I still feel I can play rugby at a high level. So nothing is set in stone yet, but I think that would be nice for us to let the dust settle on retiring in this country and go away and have an experience and come back to the real world then.” 

He’s 35 years of age now, 123 caps deep into a Test story that began back in 2011 when he shot from late call-up to Declan Kidney’s World Cup training squad to starting No.9 in the tournament itself weeks later.

The automatic starter at scrum-half for so many years, he has had to hold a supporting role in recent times as Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey staked their own claims.

It’s never been a chore so walking away won’t be easy.

“Yeah, a very difficult decision, particularly to leave a group like this. I think what I'll be most jealous of is this group will continue on and be successful, but personally it's a hard decision to make.

“You make it over a long period of time and it's been in my head for a while, and it just feels right for me and my family. I've been so lucky, so grateful to be part of this Irish set-up for I don't know how many years now at this stage, and it just feels like the right time.

“And yes, it's sad. It'll be emotional, but I've seen so many players not get to end it on their terms, careers cut short. The fact that I get to do it on my own terms and when I'm fit and healthy is something very few people get to do. So very, very grateful.” 

And, again, there’s still work to do.

France come to Dublin next week for a game that will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this year’s Six Nations. Murray will likely be on the bench. It will be his last Test at the Aviva. The plan is to end on the right note.

“France is a completely different animal all all on its own. We're going to try and not let the emotion of being the last game in the Aviva [take over]. This group is so hungry to win, we're in a great position and you know how good France are, so we'll keep that separate, genuinely.”