Paul Murray (rugby union)

Paul Murray
Full namePaul Finbarr Murray
Date of birth(1905-06-29)29 June 1905
Place of birthSandycove, Dublin, Ireland
Date of death1 June 1981(1981-06-01) (aged 75)
Place of deathBallsbridge, Dublin, Ireland
SchoolBlackrock College
Occupation(s)Medical practitioner
Rugby union career
Position(s) Half-back / Centre
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1927–33 Ireland 19 (33)
1930 British Lions 4 (0)

Paul Finbarr Murray (29 June 1905 — 1 June 1981) was an Irish rugby union international.

One of nine siblings, Murray was born in Dublin and attended Blackrock College.[1]

Murray, who captained Dublin club Wanderers, played provincial rugby for Leinster and was capped 19 times for Ireland, debuting in 1927. He was a versatile back, making his Ireland appearances as a centre, out-half and scrum-half. In 1930, Murray made the British Lions squad for the tour of New Zealand and Australia, featuring in four of the five Tests. He was picked as a three-quarter, but ended up as the team's scrum-half, after Wilf Sobey got injured.[2]

A medical practitioner, Murray became an Ireland selector after retiring from rugby in 1934. He remained active in sport as a golfer and won the 1940 South of Ireland Championship.[3] In 1965 and 1966, Murray served as IRFU president. He had a son John who was capped for Ireland in 1963 and his daughter Oonagh played hockey for Ireland.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Murray, Paul Finbarre". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
  2. ^ "Doctor who was born a footballer". Torquay Herald Express. 22 January 1963.
  3. ^ "P. F. Murray Wins Title At Lahinch". Irish Independent. 16 August 1940.
  4. ^ "Hard task for Irish women". Belfast News-Letter. 25 February 1964.