Gibson-Park hails influence of 'unbelievable' Murray ahead of final Ireland cap

Despite bringing an end to Murray’s ownership of the green number nine jersey, the Leinster scrum-half feels lucky and privileged to have learned from his counterpart

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025 - 01:05

Simon Lewis

Jamison Gibson-Park has paid a glowing tribute to fellow Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray as the veteran Munster star prepares to call time on his Test career in Rome this Saturday.

The New Zealand-born Leinster half-back arrival on the international stage in October 2020 having qualified for Ireland under World Rugby residency rules ending Murray’s ownership of the green number nine jersey. The Munster man has earned just eight starts from his most recent 35 caps since the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Yet Gibson-Park spoke of the privilege of playing with Murray, a British & Irish Test Lion on three tours whose 125th and final Ireland appearance will come against Italy at Stadio Olimpico in the final round of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations. The 35-year-old will leave Munster at the end of the season for a contract overseas and Gibson-Park said: “He's been unbelievable and he's such a great guy.

“I've been very privileged to play with him. He was one of the best in the world for the guts of 10 years. I used to watch on and when I first arrived in Ireland I was kind of amazed at how good he was, really.

“He was unbelievably consistent and I suppose in many ways I felt at that time I was probably a little inconsistent. So I looked up to guys like him for sure, and then getting into camp with him, it's been awesome to rub shoulders with him. He's such a great guy and he's certainly helped my career.

“His kicking game, over the years under Joe (Schmidt) and everything was unbelievable. He was streets ahead of anyone else in the world with that part of his game, and he still is, he's still unbelievable. I certainly learned a bit off him in that way.

“We train together every day, so we'd be kicking after sessions and that kind of thing, so chewing the fat around that. I feel really lucky to have played with him.”

Murray will not be the only one bidding farewell to international rugby on Saturday with fellow Test centurions Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony also making their final bows in green against Italy, a week on from an emotional send-off on home soil against France.

“Yeah, it was big,” Gibson-Park said. “We had a small celebration on Thursday night. They've been unbelievable. I mean, I feel privileged to have played with all three of them.”