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Murray set to eclipse Irish teammates with big-money deal - reports


Conor Murray holds the Six Nations trophy with Dan Leavy. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
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Ireland and Munster scrum-half Conor Murray is set to land a bumper new contract with the IRFU.

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The British and Irish Lion is set to become the top earner within the Irish squad with the new deal according to the Limerick Leader.

Currently, Johnny Sexton leads the list and is believed to be on a deal in the region of €650,000-€700,000.

Murray is reportedly on a contract worth €550,000 per year at the moment but could be about to pick up a significant rise to ward off interest from abroad. His current arrangement runs out at the end of the 2019 World Cup in Japan and there would be significant interest in one of the world’s best scrum-halves.

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Big-spending Saracens may be on the lookout for a new 9, with Richard Wigglesworth 35-years-old, albeit still a regular performer for the side, breaking the Premiership appearance record in Sunday’s win over Gloucester. The Premiership club do also have Ben Spencer, the 26-year-old picked up two caps during England’s tour to South Africa in June.

A move to France could also be an option for Murray, it’s a path well trodden by Irish players of late, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo are currently plying their trade at Racing 92.

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Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong and Munster backrow Peter O’Mahoney were most recently tied down by the IRFU and both are believed to be collecting pay packets of over €500,000.

Murray is not the only player coming to end of his IRFU deal, with loosehead props Cian Healy and Jack McGrath also out of contract at the end of the 2019 World Cup.

Murray, who is currently out with a neck injury, has played 67 times for Ireland and was first choice scrum-half for the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. He came through the Munster Academy and has since played 116 times for the province. Munster and Ireland will be particularly keen to get him back from injury, so he can combine with new signing Joey Carbery.

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Phantom 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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