Geordan Murphy

For other people with similar names, see Gordon Murphy or Jordi Murphy.
Geordan Murphy
Geordan Murphy playing at fullback for Leicester against Bath.
Full name Geordan Edward Andrew Murphy
Date of birth 19 April 1978
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 87 kg (13 st 10 lb)[1]
School Newbridge College
University De Montfort University and Waterford Institute of Technology
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Fullback, Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1997–2013 Leicester Tigers 316 (657)
correct as of 28 May 2013.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2000-01
2000-11
2005
2009		 Ireland A
Ireland
Lions
Barbarians		 6
74
2
1		 (7)
(98)
(0)
(0)
correct as of 10 Feb 2015.

Geordan Edward Andrew Murphy (born 19 April 1978 in Dublin) is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He played as fullback or wing both for the Irish international team and the English club Leicester Tigers.[2]

He was officially named George after his father but his mother called him Geordan to avoid confusion. His six brothers and sister all played rugby union. Murphy was educated at Newbridge College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare before attending Waterford Institute of Technology and De Montfort University in Leicester.

Murphy played Gaelic football at Minor (U18) level with Kildare GAA in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship. In 1997 shortly before he joined Leicester Tigers he gained his first U18 rugby cap for Ireland. He gradually made his way into the Tigers' first team squad, while gaining caps for Ireland U21. Opportunities at fullback were limited by the presence of Tim Stimpson, but he gained a place on the right wing. Murphy started in both of Leicester's back-to-back Heineken Cup final wins in 2001[3] and 2002, scoring a try in the latter final.[4]

Murphy broke his leg in Ireland's last warm-up game against Scotland at Murrayfield prior to the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup and did not compete.

As he has matured, Murphy prefers full back over wing. His main rivals in recent years for the Ireland full back starting position has been Girvan Dempsey and Rob Kearney. It was rumoured that he had a poor working relationship with former Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan. Murphy was named as the starting full back for Ireland in the crucial game against Argentina on 22 November 2008, and scored one of Ireland's two tries in that game.

He was a member of the victorious Ireland team that won the 2009 Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam.[5] In May 2009, Murphy was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia along with Ireland team mate Gordon D'Arcy.[6]

He took over the Tiger's Captaincy on the field in the 2008/9 season, when club captain Martin Corry was not in the team, and led them to two finals that season – Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership, the latter of which they won. The following season, he was named official club captain, though missed out on much of the season due to injury. He returned in February, to lead the team to a successive Guinness Premiership title, when the Tigers beat Saracens 33–27 in the final.[7]

Murphy was chosen to captain Ireland against the New Zealand Maori in June 2010.[8] On 11 September Murphy was picked to start in the first match of the 2011 rugby world cup since Rob Kearney was injured. Ireland won the game 22-10 against the United States. He came on then to replace Keith Earls in the Russia game.

In May 2012, Murphy announced his retirement from international Rugby.[9]

In May 2013, Murphy announced his retirement from all forms of rugby, and that he was to take up a coaching position at Leicester the following season.

References

  1. ↑ "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Leicester confirm Geordan Murphy’s new coaching role". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "European glory seals Leicester treble". BBC. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Tigers retain European Cup". BBC. 25 May 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Gareth (22 March 2009). "2009 Six Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  6. ↑ http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_17196.php
  7. ↑ Foy, Chris (31 May 2010). "Tigers pounce to give Lewis Moody a victorious send off". London: Daily Mail.
  8. ↑ "Geordan Murphy 'honoured' to captain Ireland at the Maoris". Daily Mail (London: Mail Online). 17 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  9. ↑ "Geordan Murphy". Retrieved 23 May 2012.

External links