Donegal GAA is making headlines for three reasons of late – retirements, Ryan McHugh’s genius or their star forward shooting off to the south of France to experience life as a professional rugby player.
Michael Murphy will set off for the Massif Central next week to pitch in with all the planning, training and preparation for Clermont Auvergne’s Top 14 clash with Ian Madigan’s Bordeaux-Beglés.
His switch from GAA to rugby is all part of the latest season of the AIB GAA brainchild ‘The Toughest Trade’. Murphy will sample life as a rugby pro while former Ospreys and Wales winger Shane Williams has already trained for, and lined out with, Glenswilly [he kicked 0-4 on his GAA debut].
Before setting off for France, Murphy spoke with reporters about what he expects from his jaunt, the Clermont players he knows and about the positions he hopes to avoid playing at.
Sacré Bleu! @murphm95 will have to watch out because those @ASMOfficiel lads will be flying in from all angles for #TheToughest Trade 🇫🇷💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/RvTqPIiFBR
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) January 18, 2017
Although Letterkenny would never be described as a rugby hotbed, Murphy says he followed a fair bit of the sport growing up. When he was studying up at Dublin City University, he attended Leinster and Ireland games. He still keeps track of the big Champions Cup goings on but admits he is not an avid watcher of the Top 14.
“I know a few of the Claremont players, Wesley Fofana, Morgan Parra and Aurelien Rougerie is still knocking about too. It would be good to possibly meet them and rub shoulders with them.”
Even by the player names he recalls, one can tell that Murphy the GAA forward sees himself as a rugby back. Asked what position he would prefer to play in, he remarks:
“Not a clue, hopefully somewhere not in the front row anyway.
“I don’t think I would have enough mastery of the oval ball to play fly-half! You would think somewhere along the backs, I would think anyway.
“Obviously the challenge of being able to hold and kick an oval ball is going to be something to get used to. The challenge is set out there and I will go for it and try to nail it anyway.”
The 27-year-old All Star and All-Ireland winner has conquered most sporting challenges put in front of him to date. Don’t be surprised if Letterkenny RFC come calling when his rugby wits in France get the full TV airing later this year.
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