GEORDAN MURPHY, one of the most naturally talented back-line players Ireland has produced in the modern era, has shown his versatility by playing on both wings, at full-back and centre for his country and he recently stepped in as a replacement out-half on the tour to Argentina.

Born in Dublin, Murphy has been a regular for Leicester Tigers since his move to England in 1997. A Heineken Cup winner with the Tigers in 2001 and 2002, he began his rugby career at Newbridge College and helped them reach the 1995/96 Leinster Senior Cup final which they lost to Blackrock.

Prior to that, he had a six-month spell at Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand on a rugby exchange and whilst studying at Waterford Institute of Technology, the Kildare man had a dual role with Naas and Waterpark before he made his Ireland Under-19 debut against Scotland.

Following his switch to Leicester, Murphy progressed to the Irish Under-21 and senior squads, debuting at senior level in 2000 against the United States, in a game in which he scored two tries.

Between 2001 and 2003, Murphy played 17 times for Ireland, scoring seven tries in the process, but a cruel leg break in a World Cup warm-up match against Scotland wrecked his dreams of playing at the 2003 tournament.

He returned with vigour to score in the 2004 Triple Crown-clinching win over the Scots. A Test cap for the Lions against New Zealand followed and he played in 10 of Ireland's Tests in 2006. But while his club career has flourished - he won the Premiership and EDF Energy Cup with Leicester last season - a loss of form and the resurgence of Leinster full-back Girvan Dempsey have contributed to him losing his place in the Irish team.

Murphy, who has scored 12 of his tries from full-back for Ireland with his five other touchdowns coming as a winger, showed a return to form in the recent World Cup warm-up match against Scotland and is set to play in his first World Cup next month.