Ireland International Conor Murray has ended speculation that he could be on his way to France. The Munster scrum half has signed a new two year contract with the IRFU which will see him remain at the Province until June 2016. Murray made his senior debut for Munster against Connacht in April 2010. The Munster Rugby academy graduate has made 49 appearances for Munster and has scored 6 tries. He made his Ireland debut against France in a World Cup warm-up in August 2011 and since then the 24 year old has won 22 caps and has scored 2 international tries. His last appearance for Ireland was in November 2013 against New Zealand in the recent November Series. Murray was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and featured in seven of the Lions' tour matches including the final two Test matches.
IRFU CEO Philip Browne said: "Conor has made a significant impact on Munster and Irish rugby since making his breakthrough in 2011. We are delighted that he has signed a new contract that will keep him at Munster until the end of the 2016 season."
Munster Coach Rob Penney said: "We are delighted that Conor has signed a new IRFU contract which will secure him to Munster until the end of the 2016 season. Conor has illustrated in recent months the value he brings to not only Munster but to the national team as well At 24 he is still a young guy and he has the potential to go on to become one of the best scrum-halves in the game."
Commenting on the new contract Conor Murray said: "I am thrilled to sign a new IRFU contract and to continue playing my rugby with Munster. In 2013 I learned a lot as a player with my province, Ireland and the Lions and I hope to continue to develop and push for honours over the coming years."
However some bad news for Murray is that he'll be out of action for up to 6 weeks due to a knee injury he suffered in the win over Perpignan.
Murray had been linked with a move to France along with Leinster pair Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip. O'Brien and Heaslip are both out of contract in the summer and there was even speculation doing the rounds in France last night that O'Brien would be unveiled as a Clermont player this week with Heaslip poised to sign for Toulose.
