Norm says...

Great talent

Girvan steady eddy dempsey was a sound full back but was always frustrated by his selection when Murphy was fit. For example we had a disastrous 2007 world cup, during which the only times I remember a bit of incisive running featuring was when Murphy was running from deep during his sparsely alloted time on the field.

Also agree with he testimonies made here to the mans loyalty to Leicester.

I would be absolutely gobsmacked if he does not have a coaching future there. From the outside it looks like he is already an on the job backs coach. Anybody from Leicester care to comment?

Posted 21:30 24th May 2012

sirtidychris says...

Its funny when a player retires from rugby either at club or interntional level they get a 3 sentance epitaph which is how they are viewed and how they will be remembered by everyone...Great player, underused by country, loyal...and that marks the line under 12 years of living and breathing one sport in the public domain then the rest of your life begins......The life of a professional sportsman is equally blessed and equally brutal...must be so odd the morning after you retire thinking im in my 30's and all i've ever done is now over (comradery, focuss, paycheck..etc) WTF next ?????...At least GM has a 1/2 years at club left..Great player, sadly underused by ireland...very loyal leicester clubman

Posted 15:36 23rd May 2012

curates_egg says...

Respect to a great player and true gent.

Unlike a lot of the other recent Irish international retirements, he is one player who got far fewer caps than he should have. Ireland's loss was definitely Leicester's gain. Would have been great to see him for at least a season with Leinster in the mid-2000s.

Posted 13:14 23rd May 2012

seapointer says...

A great player from his day at Newbridge College in the 1996 Senior Cup Final to his days at Leicester a one club man and that has to be admired in the professional era. Under used by ireland but always reliable when selected

Posted 11:26 23rd May 2012

jamesliveinhope says...

Probably Ireland's best for most of his senior career, just not best enough for the challenge of not playing for any of the provinces.

Has to be said that his loyalty to his club should be admired.

Posted 11:07 23rd May 2012

blametheref says...

The most badly utilized talent to have pulled on an Irish jersey, Murphy was a tremendous talent who was, because he played in England, never properly acknowledged by successive Irish coaches...he deserved much much more, an unsung Irish legend from Leinster, who is a legend at Leicester...

Posted 10:15 23rd May 2012