Conor Murray will start for Ireland for the second week in a row in this weekend's Six Nations clash with France, despite personal issues blighting the Munster scrum-half's preparation.
Murray will win his 102nd Ireland cap against France, after a week which saw his father hospitalised with "serious injuries" after a road traffic collision in County Limerick.
Gerry Murray was cycling on the N20, near Patrickswell, when his bike collided with a truck on Tuesday afternoon. He was initially treated at University Hospital Limerick before being transferred to Cork University Hospital. The Irish Times reported that Gerry Murray had suffered "serious head injuries".
The local community were said to be "in shock" in the same report, and it was revealed that Gerry Murray had been placed in an induced coma to "keep him steady". A local source was reported by the Irish Times saying, "He was very seriously injured and we are hoping he will get through it...it was a very serious incident, he is lucky to be alive and hopefully he will pull through."
It has no doubt been a tremendously difficult week for the Murray family, but Conor will nonetheless line out at scrum-half for Ireland on Saturday afternoon, and the Irish coaching staff have given updates on the Munsterman's state of mind ahead of the game.
Conor Murray in good spirits despite serious injuries to father
Ireland's captain's run took place at the Aviva Stadium on Friday afternoon, and Conor Murray took part in the full session in preparation for Saturday's game.
10 February 2023; Ireland players, from left, Tadhg Beirne, Conor Murray and Jack Conan before the Ireland rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Speaking to the media, Ireland's scrum coach John Fogarty said that Murray was in "good form" after returning to the camp from spending time with his father, and shared good wishes to the family on behalf of Irish rugby:
He's in good form, he's back in with the group and he's in good form and he's looking forward to tomorrow. We wish his dad the very best from the squad, and a quick recovery."
With Leinster scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park still out injured, Murray was Andy Farrell's go-to man to start at 9 for Ireland for Saturday's crunch clash with France at the Aviva Stadium.
Murray had initially also been a doubt for what were initially thought to be injury concerns, but the situation has become clearer after the news broke of the serious incident suffered by his father this week. At Thursday's press conference to announce the Ireland team - before news had broken of Murray Sr's accident - coach Andy Farrell said Murray was "good to go," before saying, "[He's] in good spirits. For personal reasons I'd like to keep that as it is."
No matter the scale, a game of rugby pales in significance when matters such as these arrive, and this incident has put Saturday's game into perspective. The thoughts of all in Irish rugby are with Gerry Murray, his son Conor, and their family and the local community.
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