Munster Confirm Murray’s Return To Full Training
Conor Murray has returned to full team training with the Munster squad who trained at the High Performance Centre in Limerick today ahead of next Sunday’s GUINNESS PRO14 trip to Parma to play Zebre.
Conor Murray is working his way back from a neck injury which has prevented him playing for Munster and Ireland so far this season. It is unclear as of yet if he will be involved in the Zebre game, which is closely followed by a home clash with Edinburgh then the back-to-back European matches against Castres.
The star scrum half’s return to full training is a timely boost for Johann van Graan’s men, who have also welcomed back fellow Ireland international Chris Farrell and Conor Oliver, Ronan O’Mahony, Calvin Nash and Jaco Taute from spells on the sidelines.
Munster defence coach JP Ferreira commented: “Certainly with Conor you just have to wait out the process and get him strong enough. He is training as well at the moment. He’s in the same boat as Chris, training, he’s on the pitch. Conor has gone through extensive rehab in getting him physically ready and getting him contact ready.
“We haven’t made a call on the weekend. He’s just got to get through training and it’s got to be the all-clear for him from us and then obviously the Irish camp has got a big say in that as well.
“Look, it’s like Tyler (Bleyendaal), with a neck injury you can’t take any risks. I’ve been on the side where you have a guy like (prop) Julian Redelinghuys, one game and it almost cost him to be a quadriplegic. You can’t take any risks with neck injuries. Certainly with Conor, you just have to wait out the process and get him strong enough.”
On the returning Farrell, the South African added: “Look, it’s unbelievable, not just for us but it’s for Ireland as well. Having Chris back on the pitch, getting him training, getting him going again, he has such a big stature and character. He is training well but we haven’t made any final calls on him. He has to come through training. The medical staff will give us the picture and Johann will have the call.”
Meanwhile, an update from the Ireland camp today confirmed that Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, who was the man-of-the-match in the historic 16-9 win over New Zealand, suffered a dead leg during the GUINNESS Series encounter. His training load will be managed accordingly this week.
The following Munster players are progressing with their rehabilitation: Liam O’Connor (knee), Rhys Marshall (hamstring), Jean Kleyn (thumb), Tommy O’Donnell (ankle), Jack O’Donoghue (knee), Dave O’Callaghan (foot), James Hart (knee), Dan Goggin (knee) and Stephen Fitzgerald (foot).