Murphy forced to retire after struggling with serious injuries

RUGBY NEWS:MUNSTER CENTRE Barry Murphy has announced yesterday he is to retire from professional rugby following a spate of serious injuries that has prevented him from getting back to full fitness and being competitive.

The 28-year-old former UL Bohemians player has been sidelined for most of the current season due to a series of physical problems and the most recent, a metatarsal problem in his left foot, has been the final straw in a season of frustration.

Murphy announced himself on the Munster scene in the 2005-06 season and scored a memorable try against Sale Sharks at Thomond Park in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup. He forged an effective centre partnership with South African Trevor Halstead that year, but did not feature in the historic European victory over Biarritz later that season after injuring his ankle playing against Ulster.

It would be the start of many injury problems for the talented three-quarter that also forced his team-mate, Ian Dowling, to hang up his boots. Alan Quinlan is also set to retire at the end of the season leaving Munster with the loss of three significant players for next year’s campaign.

Murphy won 71 caps for Munster scoring 12 tries, six of those in the Heineken Cup and he also scored a try against the All Blacks at Thomond Park in 2008. It was the only try conceded by the All Blacks in the course of their victorious five-match tour. He was capped for his country on four occasions, twice against Argentina during their 2007 tour to Ireland, once against Canada and once against the United States.

Speaking about his retirement yesterday, Murphy said: “People say to me I’ve been unlucky and while I appreciate what they mean I don’t see it that way. The past seven or eight years have been a wonderful time in my life, playing with Munster. I’ve made loads of friends here in this squad, enjoyed some great times and I wouldn’t trade a moment of it.”

With more than 73,000 tickets sold for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium there is limited availability for fans still hoping to come to Cardiff, to see Leinster take on Northampton Saints. Tickets can still be purchased at Ticketline and Ticketmaster.

The inaugural IRFU All-Ireland Club Sevens Championship finals take place tomorrow at Templeville Road, with the winners and runners-up from the four provincial club sevens tournaments in contention to represent Ireland at a European Sevens tournament.