Background
He was officially named George after his father but his mother called him Geordan to avoid confusion.
Gaelic football player rugby union player
He was officially named George after his father but his mother called him Geordan to avoid confusion.
Murphy was educated at Newbridge College, Newbridge, Company Kildare before attending Waterford Institute of Technology and De Montfort University in Leicester.
He played as fullback or wing both for the Irish international team and the English club Leicester Tigers. Murphy played Gaelic football at Minor (U18) level with Kildare Gaelic Athletic Association in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship. In 1997 shortly before he joined Leicester Tigers he gained his first U18 rugby cap for Ireland.
He gradually made his way into the Tigers" first team squad, while gaining caps for Ireland U21.
Opportunities at fullback were limited by the presence of Tim Stimpson, but he gained a place on the right wing. Murphy broke his leg in Ireland"s last warm-up game against Scotland at Murrayfield prior to the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup and did not compete.
As he has matured, Murphy prefers full back over wing. lieutenant was rumoured that he had a poor working relationship with former Ireland Coach Eddie O"Sullivan.
Murphy was named as the starting full back for Ireland in the crucial game against Argentina on 22 November 2008, and scored one of Ireland"s two tries in that game.
In May 2009, Murphy was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia along with Ireland team mate Gordon Doctorate"Arcy. The following season, he was named official club captain, though missed out on much of the season due to injury. He returned in February, to lead the team to a successive Guinness Premiership title, when the Tigers beat Saracens 33–27 in the final.
Murphy was chosen to captain Ireland against the New Zealand Maori in June 2010.
On 11 September Murphy was picked to start in the first match of the 2011 rugby world cup since Rob Kearney was injured. He came on then to replace Keith Earls in the Russia game.
In May 2012, Murphy announced his retirement from international Rugby. In May 2013, Murphy announced his retirement from all forms of rugby, and that he was to take up a coaching position at Leicester the following season.