Conor Murray

Conor Murray (born 20 April 1989) is an Irish rugby union player who plays for Munster in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup. Internationally, Murray has represented Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, whom he captained temporarily in 2021. He plays as a scrum-half and represents Garryowen in the All-Ireland League.

Early life

Murray was born in Limerick, Ireland, where he attended St. Munchin's College and was part of the same Munster Schools Rugby Senior Cup squad as current Munster and Ireland colleague Keith Earls.

Munster

2010–2015

Murray made his competitive debut for Munster against Connacht in the Celtic League on 18 April 2010, coming on as a blood replacement. He part of the Munster A team that lost the final of the 2009–10 British and Irish Cup to Cornish Pirates on 16 May 2010. Murray came off the bench to replace Duncan Williams during Munster's historic 15–6 victory against Australia on 16 November 2010. He made his European debut against Brive in April 2011. On 28 May 2011, he started at scrum-half against Leinster in the 2011 Celtic League Grand Final, which Munster won 19–9 in Thomond Park. In his first full season with Munster, Murray won the John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year.

Murray made his Heineken Cup debut for Munster against Northampton Saints on 12 November 2011. He won the Man-of-the-Match award for Munster in their Heineken Cup Round 4 match against Scarlets on 18 December 2011. Murray made his comeback from the knee injury he suffered in the 2012 Six Nations in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster on 8 April 2012. He scored his first try for Munster in the United Rugby Championship league fixture against Glasgow Warriors on 14 April 2012. Murray won another Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's league game against Ulster on 5 May 2012.

During Munster's first 2012–13 Heineken Cup game on 13 October 2012 against Racing 92, Murray gave away a penalty late in the game to give Racing the lead, and they went on to achieve an unlikely win. His performance improved in Munster's second pool match against Edinburgh on 21 October, with Murray scoring Munster's first of four tries in a 33–0 bonus-point victory. Murray scored a try in Munster's crucial victory against Edinburgh on 13 January 2013, and he scored again as Munster beat Racing 92 29–6 to secure a place in the quarter-finals. He started in Munster 18–12 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Harlequins on 7 April 2013. Murray also started the 16–10 semi-final defeat to Clermont Auvergne.

Murray started for Munster against Edinburgh in their opening round 29–23 defeat in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup on 12 October 2013. He again started for Munster in the second round game against Gloucester on 19 October 2013, which Munster won 26–10. He started Munster's 36–8 win against Perpignan on 8 December 2013, but went off injured in the first-half. Murray signed a new two-year contract with Munster and the IRFU in December 2013. As a result of a knee injury he suffered against Perpignan, Murray was ruled out for six weeks.

Murray returned to full training on 6 January 2014, two weeks ahead of schedule. Murray started the 20–7 away win against Gloucester on 11 January 2013, a win that secured quarter-final qualification. He started against Edinburgh on 19 January 2014, scoring a try in the 38–6 Round 6 win that secured a home quarter-final. Murray started in Munster's 47–23 Heineken Cup quarter-final win against Toulouse on 5 April 2014. He started in Munster's 24–16 semi-final defeat against Toulon on 27 April 2014. He converted two tries for Munster in their 55–12 win against Edinburgh on 3 May 2014. Murray won the 2014 Munster Senior Player of the Year Award on 8 May 2014.

Murray captained Munster against Ospreys on 27 September 2014. He was Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 34–23 win against Leinster on 4 October 2014. Murray started in Munster's first European Rugby Champions Cup game against Sale Sharks on 18 October 2014, scoring a try. He started against Saracens in Round 2 of the Champions Cup on 24 October 2014, earning the Man-of-the-Match award in the 14–3 win for Munster. Murray started against Clermont Auvergne on 6 December 2014. He also started in the reverse fixture against Clermont on 14 December 2014.

Murray was ruled out of the game against Saracens on 17 January 2015 with a neck injury. He also missed the final pool game against Sale Sharks on 25 January 2015 because of the injury. Murray scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 34–3 win against Edinburgh on 11 April 2015. He scored a hat-trick of tries and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 50–27 win against Dragons on 16 May 2015.

Murray started the opening pool game of the 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup against Benetton on 14 November 2015. He started against Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup on 12 December 2015.

2016–2021

Murray signed a new three-year contract with Munster and the IRFU in January 2016. On 24 September 2016, Murray scored two tries in Munster's 28–14 win against Edinburgh. On 6 May 2017, Murray made his return from the injury he sustained during the 2017 Six Nations when he came off the bench in Munster's 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Connacht. On 10 May 2017, Murray won the Rugby Players Ireland ''Players' Player of the Year'' Award, becoming the third Munster player in a row to win the accolade after CJ Stander (2016) and Paul O'Connell (2015). On 27 May 2017, Murray won his 100th cap for Munster when he started against Scarlets in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final, which the Welsh side won 46–22.

Murray won the Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year award in October 2017. Murray scored Munster's first try in their 20–19 win against Toulon in the quarter-finals of the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup on 31 March 2018. He scored a try and a 65th minute 57-metre penalty to earn Munster a 19–17 away win against