Capped at Under-19, Under-21 and‘A’ levels, Murphy scored two tries on his senior debut against the USA in 2000. Tied to Leicester Tigers since 1997, Murphy looked set to scale the heights at the 2003 World Cup, but a cruel leg break in a warm-up game against Scotland saw him sidelined.

His return to form in 2005 earned him a Lions call-up. He started four RBS Six Nations games in 2006 but played only once during the 2007 campaign, against France at Croke Park. He featured in four games during Ireland’s successul 2009 Grand Slam run before starting in the recent wins over against England and Wales.