Five things you didn't know about Conor Murray ahead of his 100th cap

He's now the fifth most-capped scrum-half of all-time behind George Gregan, Aaron Smith, Ben Youngs and Will Genia.

Murray came through the ranks at Munster, making his debut in 2010 in a game against Connacht before coming off the bench in the historic win over Australia later that year. 

In 2011, Murray started the Guinness PRO12 final win over Leinster and he made his Test debut that summer in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game against France. 

His first Test start came against the USA in that World Cup while he also featured in the wins over Australia and Italy before starting the quarter-final defeat to Wales.  

After playing his part in the Lions series win in Australia in 2013, Murray played a prominent role as Ireland secured back-to-back Six Nations Championships in 2014 and 2015. 

A second Rugby World Cup quarter-final followed for Murray before he scored a try in the first-ever Irish win against the Springboks in South Africa in the summer of 2016. 

Another try and a first penalty at international level followed in November of that year in a sensational display as Ireland beat New Zealand for the first time in Chicago. 

And following his starring role for the Lions in the drawn series with the All Blacks, Murray started every game as Ireland won the 2018 Six Nations and achieved the Grand Slam. 

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Stuart McCloskey

Conor Murray, full name Gerard Conor Murray, was born 20 April 1989 in Limerick, Ireland. He stands at 6ft 2in (1.88m) and weighs 14st 6lbs (93kg).

Pocock explained: “In 2005 on the Australian Schoolboys tour of UK and Ireland we were billeted out with families in Limerick. The family I was billeted with: the Murrays.

“I don’t think Conor or I were thinking we’d go on to face each other in test rugby.

“Great to catch up after the game.”

Before becoming a professional rugby player, Murray played Gaelic football with Patrickswell and Limerick. He represented Limerick in the Sarsfield Cup and also played for Limerick in the primary football games.

A British & Irish Lion under Warren Gatland in 2013 and 2017, Conor Murray became a three-time tourist in South Africa in the summer of 2021. He also stepped in to captain the side at the start of the Tour while Alun Wyn Jones recovered from a shoulder suffered against Japan at BT Murrayfield. He was also the first scrum-half to captain the famous tourists since England scrum-half Dickie Jeeps in 1957.

The Limerick man is dating 2015 Miss Universe Ireland winner Joanna Cooper. Cooper studied Journalism at Belfast University and works as a model, she has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram.

The pair got engaged in March having dated for over four years.

The couple also have Cavapoo dog called Kevin.