Michael Murphy heads for France soon where he will get a chance to trod the same turf as some of Eurpean rugby's most well-known rugby players. As part of AIB's The Toughest Trade, Murphy will train with Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne.
Seven years ago, Murphy had his own chance to go professional when the AFL came calling. Geelong, in particular, were interested. Murphy, however, was not.
Quoted by GAA.ie, Murphy explained why he turned down the prospect of playing Aussie Rules. As a 20-year-old, Murphy, like many Irish who head abroad at that age, felt he would have been afflicted by homesickness.
Definitely there was opportunities there to go forward and go at it.
I wouldn't have hacked I don't think so. There were some times I'd say to myself, I would love to be out in a professional environment and that was probably my opportunity to go and do that. To live in Australia, I wouldn't have been cut out for it, not a hope.
The idea of a professional sportstar's life was one which intrigued him. However, playing with Donegal and his club Glenswilly was the desire which burned most fiercely.
I just would have missed home too much! I know myself. I'm quite honest, that time and it still is, I just want to play for Donegal. I want to play for as many years as I can with my county and with my club.
That was my real big desire. Yes, being a professional and waking up in the morning and trying to get your body in the best possible shape, there was that desire to go and live a professional lifestyle, but what do you really want to do in a sporting context? You want to play with your club and you want to play with your county and win things with both. That's the way it has been.
Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
