Limerick man Conor Murray calls time on distinguished rugby playing career

DECORATED Limerick scrum-half Conor Murray has confirmed his decision to call time on his distinguished rugby career.

Murray announced in February that he was departing Munster at the end of last season for a new playing opportunity after an incredible 15 years with the province. 

Thirty six-year-old Murray won two United Rugby Championship titles in his time with Munster which yielded 206 appearances and 37 tries for the province. On the international stage, he was selected in the World Rugby Men’s XV Team of the Decade, 2010-2019.

First capped for Ireland in 2011 with his debut showing against France, the Limerick man has also been at the heart of Ireland’s astonishing success in the years, winning five Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and 125 caps for his country. He also scored 115 points for his country, including 18 tries, five penalties and five conversions.

Murray was a three-time tourist with the British & Irish Lions amassing 8 test caps along the way. 

However, the Patrickswell man confirmed to Leader Sport that he has decided to hang up his rugby boots rather than continue playing. 

Murray launched his new book Cloud Nine: My Life in Rugby at Thomond Park Stadium on Thursday evening where he was joined by his former Munster and Ireland team mates Keith Earls and Simon Zebo for a special event where they were in conversation with sports broadcaster Joe Molloy.

Speaking to Leader Sport, Murray confirmed his decision to call time on his glittering career.

"I'm done. I'm finished playing. I left it open ended at the end of the season. Physically I feel great. In terms of wanting to play rugby it is not there as strongly as it was so that is definitely a sign," Murray revealed. 

"The reason I let it play out and not announce retirement immediately was that if an opportunity came up for my wife Joanna and son Alfie now to go and live somehwere really cool for a year and play rugby, then we would take it.

"I would do it for them, I would tog out for them. But we were like, if the right opportunity didn't come, for example there was a team in Japan and I'm thinking my wife and son are just going to be in an apartment for the year, we are married two and a bit years now and have a 10-month-old, is that what you want to be doing?

"Some people do, it's for them, but we felt if we didn't get a nice opportunity then we would just let it go and that is where we are at now.

"I suppose it was more Joanna being like, 'come on, you have more in you' and I was just kinda like I am 36 now, I feel great, do you want to flog the horse any more and that's where we are at and I am very, very happy with that.

"There is a lot going on, but I am going to take a bit of a break first, take a break for a couple of months and weigh everythng up.

"I don't want to jump into something straight away. I will do the bits of media and stay connected to the game, definitely, but in terms of the 'real' job or whatever, there are a few bits in the background, but I want to take a break first and enjoy the downtime. 

Murray, who studied Business and Risk Analysis in UL during his time with Munster Rugby, has ruled out getting involved in rugby coaching.

"Coaching is not for me. Not for me. I will give you as straight as straight an answer can go, not for me," he said. 

Conor Murray will be signing copies of his book Cloud Nine: My Life in Rugby in O'Mahony's Booksellers on O'Connell Street, Limerick this Saturday, September 13 at 1pm.

Signed copies of the book are also available from Eason's in the Crescent Shopping Centre.