Murphy could have been a rugby star says former International

By Frank Craig
PRO

FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Kieran Campbell says that Toughest Trade competitor Michael Murphy has the ‘ideal physical profile’ to be a hit at pro rugby outfit and Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne.

The former scrumhalf, who lined out for his country three times, is now head at the Ulster Rugby Academy. He also played for the likes of London Irish, Ulster and Connacht in his playing pomp. Campbell will be following Murphy’s progress in France with particular interest.

The 38-year-old’s father is a native of Ardara in west Donegal and summers home from London were often spent in Pearse Memorial Park with the various local GAA sides there.

He said: “Like all second generation Irish in London, myself and my brother both played Gaelic football growing up. So, any time we came back to Ardara, we were always keen to give it a go. They’re great memories.

“Dad lives in Donegal Town now. It’s great to get back up there whenever I can. We’ve also got Conall Boomer (Narin/Portnoo) up here too. Up until a few years ago, he was still playing Gaelic in Ardara and rugby here.

“But obviously the demands of being in the Academy now, and his age, he had to make a choice.”

Campbell explains that the ‘physical profile’ of any young lad now coming through his Academy door is a crucial aspect, possibly the defining detail, which decides if they ultimately make the grade.

“We have a lot of crossover with the Gaelic lads that come in,” he added. “In my set-up here in the Academy both our performance psychologists, one is involved with Down and one is involved with Tyrone.

“We also have quite a number of lads transitioning from Gaelic to rugby. We’ve a guy from Swatragh in Derry, Tommy O’Hagan. He only started out at rugby at 17. He’s now on the verge of making it into the seniors.

“We’ve another guy called Joe Dunleavy from Letterkenny. He’s on the verge of coming into the Academy. Those lads – the interest was due to their physical profile. These guys are over 116kg. The skills they already have in terms of hand and eye coordination from Gaelic is fantastic. It makes them more skilled at rugby.

“But it’s the actual physical attributes they possess that make them more suitable to our game.”

Campbell explains that the AIB-back TV series was the main topic of conversation during a recent sit down with Irish senior star Tommy Bowe. Bowe is a former underage county star with his native Monaghan. Like Campbell, he’s fascinated to see how both men fare in the code switch when the programme eventually airs in early March.

Campbell said: “Tommy Bowe was in with us there recently. We talked about Shane (Williams) going up to Glenswilly and he was also really looking forward to seeing how Michael fared at Clermont.

“There is a massive amount of respect there (from the rugby boys). We are in a very privileged position in that any of us that have been pros or work in the pro game, we’ve only ever had one thing to focus on – our careers and delivering in our sport.

“These guys, they have to hold it in unison with their jobs. The guys at the very elite county level like Michael, it’s a huge commitment. At the end of the day, these guys have jobs because that’s what pays the bills.

“There is even more respect for them because of that. It’s because of the love for what they do. It’s very pure in that sense. Once professionalism kicks in in our game, certain aspects become a bore and a strain.

“Those (Gaelic) guys are doing what they do, of their own accord, simply because they love it. That’s very special. It’s great to see and, like I said, I’ve huge admiration for them.

“The physical level and the quality that county players are now reaching too, it’s hugely impressive. The skill levels, in front of 80,000 people in Croke Park, it’s unbelievable that amateur players are able to do that.”

Ideal prospect

Murphy size and mobility leaves Campbell in no doubt that the Donegal skipper would have had a serious chance of making the grade as a teenager had he decided to afford rugby more than just a passing interest.

“You watch Michael play and his qualities are obvious,” he continued. “He’s over 6ft and his physical profile is excellent. He’d make an outstanding back row or, funnily enough with the way the game has changed, a centre.

“He moves so well and he’s got that added bonus of having a really high level of skill. His transition into rugby, had he been 16 or17, would have been easy. Some of my wife’s family are from Kerry. They were discussing Kieran Donaghy and how he’d adapt to rugby.

“But I explained that it wouldn’t work. He’s just too lean. Michael has that muscle, that thickness and robustness that would be able to get him through a rugby match.”

It’s unlikely that the Glenswilly man will be thrown into a match scenario behind closed doors with Clermont’s academy players. Rory Gallagher just wouldn’t have agreed to that.

But Campbell insists that the gauntlet they will make the player run, and the tests they carry out, will leave viewers in no doubt if the Irish national side and indeed Ulster, lost out on potential rugby superstar.

He said: “I watched it last year and of course seen what Aidan O’Shea was asked to do in his tryout. Quite easily, and I’m sure it’s one of the first things Clermont will look at; they will see that he can carry the ball. The way that Michael carries it in Gaelic, the speed of it, and the way he uses his footwork will immediately make him stand out. No doubt.

“I’d dare say they’ll test his hand to eye coordination and his aerial skills. Again, those will be areas that he should excel at. I imagine he’ll be similar to Tommy (Bowe) in that way.

“You look at Tommy’s biggest attributes. He can catch ball above his head and that is a huge part of rugby union now – being able to cross-field kick for guys to catch above their head and be able to score.

“Looking at the way Michael can absorb contact, the way he hits and spins, that will again easily transfer. The one thing Michael is not going to have, and it’ll be a change for him, is carrying the ball into contact.

“But having watched Michael play he certainly doesn’t look like a guy that will have any fear or apprehension of that aspect!

“The way he kicks the ball too will be an attribute. Michael is a natural free-taker in GAA off the ground. His distance kicking, especially with the ball being kicked off a tee; the way he strikes a football means that should transition nicely for him. I’m really looking forward to this now to be quite honest!

“The one thing Clermont can’t do is throw him into full contact game. At the same time, what they’ll ask of him, will give us a pretty good idea if a guy like Michael could have made a career out of rugby.”