Geordan Murphy

Who is Geordan Murphy?

Geordan Edward Andrew Murphy is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He played as fullback or wing both for the Irish international team and the English club Leicester Tigers.

He was officially named George after his father but his mother called him Geordan to avoid confusion. His six brothers and sister all played rugby union. Murphy was educated at Newbridge College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare before attending Waterford Institute of Technology and De Montfort University in Leicester.

Murphy played Gaelic football at Minor level with Kildare GAA 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 played in both of Leicester's back-to-back Heineken Cup final wins in 2001 and 2002.

In June 2000, after representing Ireland A and an Ireland XV, he made his full Ireland debut against the United States, scoring twice.