Conor Murray: 'He'll pick players that are playing the best. He doesn't look at age'

AGE NOT AN ISSUE: Irish rugby icon and Munster legend Conor Murray is pictured as Virgin Media Television announce that he will join its expert rugby panel as an analyst for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations Championship, kicking off on 5 February 2026. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

There might be a number of players within the system that are on the wrong side of 30, but international centurion Conor Murray is confident Andy Farrell won’t be overly concerned about the age profile of the Ireland squad.

A debutant all the way back in August 2011 against France in a World Cup warm-up fixture, the now-retired Murray was a few weeks shy of his 36th birthday when he picked up his 125th and final Ireland senior cap in a closing round win over Italy at the 2025 Six Nations. Last year also saw veteran Leinster prop Cian Healy bringing his professional career to a close, but of the 36 players who spent time with the Ireland set-up for the recent November test window, 15 of them were aged 30 or older.

Yet while there have been question marks raised over some players within this cohort, Murray knows from experience that Ireland head coach Farrell won’t be disregarding anyone based purely on their age.

“He'll pick players that are playing the best. He doesn't look at age. I've had this conversation with Andy before. He was like ‘It doesn't matter what age you are at. If you're performing, if you're adding to the team and you're the best option. Whether you're starting or you're on the bench, or whatever way it works, I'll pick you’,” Murray acknowledged.

“I think lads nowadays are conditioned way better. They can go for longer. They can play well into their 30s. The age thing, I wouldn't say I was a victim of it at all, but I've been there and I've gotten the questions about how are you feeling. If you're in the group and you're playing well enough and you're in good condition, Andy has an option to pick you.” 

Murray was speaking yesterday at the Virgin Media Television studios in Dublin for a preview of their Six Nations Championship coverage, with the Limerick man being unveiled as the station’s newest pundit for a tournament he won himself on five occasions.

As well as Ireland, Murray is also looking on from the outside as Munster get to grips with life under new head coach Clayton McMillan. Following a superb start to the season that saw them winning their opening five games in the United Rugby Championship, the southern province have gone through a more difficult run of form in recent weeks with last Sunday’s agonising 27-25 loss away to Toulon in the European Champions Cup being their fifth defeat in seven across all competitions.

However, the Patrickswell native did take a positive from the fact Munster were moments away from a famous victory on the road and he backed his old side to win against Castres at Thomond Park tomorrow and ultimately advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s top-tier.

“An unbelievable start obviously with five out of five in the URC and what I would have hoped would have been a momentum shift in beating Leinster at Croke Park. We all hoped for them to kick on and continue that momentum, but it has been a little stop start,” Murray added.

“Last weekend, I think one decision, rightly or wrongly. Everyone has their own opinion on that last play that went against Tadhg [Beirne]. They were one decision, one referee's opinion, away from a famous win in Toulon.

“All in all it is a bit of a stop start. They're going into a very crucial few weeks or they're already in the middle of that. They'll have to treat them with respect, which they will, but I just feel that they should be too strong for Castres.”