LET’S WAIT AND ZE!
Murray says other players could follow Ireland flyer Simon to rugby’s top table if the cash proves too good to turn down
CONOR MURRAY says it’s a case of “wait and see” when it comes to the impact Simon Zebo’s move to France has on the rest of Ireland’s star players.
Zebo announced earlier this week that he would leave Munster at the end of the current season, with Racing 92 in France his expected destination.
Yesterday he was left out of Joe Schmidt’s (below) Ireland squad for next month’s November internationals as a result.
The incentive to stay home and play for Ireland is a huge one, Murray admits, but the money on offer from the likes of Racing, Montpellier and Toulon in France may soon become even greater.
“It’s a big decision isn’t it,” Murray said, “but it’s a reality as well, it’s a short career and you’ve got to look at that side of things.
“But to be denied playing for your country is a big deal, so it’s a massive carrot to hold up in front of you.
“It’s a big decision, because playing over in the Aviva on international days is an incredible feeling.
“Being involved in the national setup, the way you’re looked after is class and it’s a great squad to be a part of. I’ve a lot of good mates in that squad, we enjoy playing together, playing for your country together.”
Taking two or three years out to make the big bucks overseas has mostly been an option for older players, but things may change now that Zebo has made the groundbreaking move at the age of 27.
“A few New Zealand lads have done it before, they have taken time off and come over to Europe and earned their money, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t happen here,” Murray said.
“People talk about it all the time and now Simon has gone and done it.
“Does that mean more players are going to do it at different ages? It’s all down to the player I think.
“It’s not really down to the IRFU if someone wants to go and earn that extra bit of money but then you are back to the risk of you losing your international place.
“It remains to be seen now that Zeebs has gone and done it as one of the younger guys to do it…we’ll see, we’ll see what happens. Definitely it’s going to turn heads.”
Murray’s own head may be turned in 2019, when his contract expires. He could chose to leave for two seasons, make a barrow load of money, and still return to be in contention for the 2023 tournament.
“I think I’ll be 29/30 when that comes around, so you’d have to look at it, weigh everything up,” he said.
“It’s an interesting and a nice option to be able to go and play down the south of France or the UK or London. The IRFU are competing against that, keeping players here but playing with Munster, I’m a Munster man and playing with Ireland is unbelievable and what we have here is great. .
“Being on tour with the Lions and speaking to lads, they describe our clubs as proper rugby clubs with the support we have and the stadiums full, which is hard to find in other countries.”
MUNSTER: s Zebo; A Conway, C Farrell, r scannell, K Earls; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, r Marshall, J ryan; M Flanagan, B holland; P o’mahony, T o’donnell, CJ stander. REPLACEMENTS: K o’byrne, L o’connor, s Archer, s Mccarthy, J o’donoghue, D Williams, JJ hanrahan, D sweetnam.