Ireland icon Conor Murray does career U-turn and calls retires from rugby

A legend of the game.

Ireland and Munster legend, Conor Murray, has retired from rugby at the age of 36.

The scrum-half is regarded as one of the best to ever don the green jersey, and was among the best in the world during his prime years from 2013-2019.

He finishes his career with 105 Ireland caps and eight for the Lions.

He called time on his Ireland career after this year's Six Nations, alongside Cian Healy and Peter O'Mahony.

At the time, his two teammates announced that they would be hanging their boots fully at the end of last season, while Murray was expected to 'pursue a playing opportunity abroad' at the end of his Munster contract.

However, in an interview with The42, he revealed that his playing days are now over.

He said: "I had left it open-ended.

"But it was more for a life experience for my wife Joanna and our little boy Alfie, who's 10 months now, and just if we wanted to go somewhere nice and experience a nice place to live, for them as much as me wanting to play on.

"There were a couple of offers but nothing that really suited us at this time of our lives.

"There was one in Japan but dragging them there, putting them in an apartment in Tokyo or something like that just didn’t appeal to where we’re at at the minute.

"So long story short, nothing of appeal came up and I’m very happy to hang up the boots properly and move into the next chapter."

Murray is due to release his autobiography, 'Cloud Nine', with a number of explosive excerpts released over the last few days.

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