Blair Murray (born 9 October 2001) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays for United Rugby Championship side Scarlets and the Wales national rugby union team.
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| Born | 9 October 2001[1] Hāwera, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lb; 11 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | New Plymouth Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editFrom Hāwera, Murray attended New Plymouth Boys' High School and played for New Zealand Schools.[2] He played for Southern Rugby Club.
Club career
editCanterbury
editHe is capable of playing at fly-half or across the back line at wing or full-back.[3] Between 2021 and 2023, he played for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship.[4]
Scarlets
editHe signed for Welsh side Scarlets of the United Rugby Championship in June 2024.[5] Murray made his debut for the Scarlets on 7 September 2024 in a pre-season friendly against Leicester Tigers.[6] His competitive debut came on 21 September, in the opening round against Benetton, nearly scoring on his first appearance.[7] His first try came on 18 October 2024, in a win over the Bulls, and scored again the following week against Zebre Parma.[8][9]
In his first season with the Scarlets, Murray was named as the players’ player of the season during the end of season awards.[10] He was also named in the United Rugby Championship Elite XV and was named the Welsh Rugby Writers' young player of the year.[11]
International career
editWales
editHe was called-up to the Wales national team for the first time in October 2024 for the 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[12] Murray made his debut on 10 November 2024, starting on the wing against Fiji, and scored his first try during the match[13] He started against Australia the following week, before moving to fullback for the final fixture against South Africa.[14]
Murray was retained in the squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship.[15]
Murray was selected for the 2025 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[16] He scored a try in the loss against Argentina.[17]
Murray was named in the squad for the 2026 Six Nations by Steve Tandy.[18]
Personal life
editHe is Welsh qualified through his mother, who is from Tonyrefail.[19]
References
edit- ↑ "Blair Murray". itsrugby. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ↑ "Kiwi youngster Blair Murray creates buzz with spectacular try". Stuff.co.nz. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ↑ "Welsh-qualified Kiwi Blair Murray becomes Scarlets' latest signing". Rugby Pass. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ↑ "Blair Murray". All Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ↑ "Scarlets sign Welsh-qualified back Murray". BBC Sport. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ↑ "Scarlets defeated at Welford Road". Scarlets Rugby. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ↑ "Benetton salvage late draw against Scarlets". rugby365.com. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ↑ "Scarlets 23-22 Bulls: Hosts celebrate win against 14-man visitors". BBC Sport. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ↑ "United Rugby Championship: Scarlets secure bonus-point win over Zebre". BBC Sport. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ↑ "Marnus, Blair and Josh take accolades at Scarlets awards evening". Scarlets Rugby. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ↑ Coleman-Phillips, Ceri (5 October 2025). "Scarlets' Murray to kick on from award-laden first season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ Lloyd, Matt (21 October 2024). "Uncapped Thomas and Murray in Wales autumn squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ↑ Griffiths, Gareth. "Wing Murray to make Wales debut against Fiji". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ↑ "Wales v South Africa: Fly-half Sam Costelow recalled to face Springboks". BBC Sport. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ↑ James, Dylan (13 January 2025). "Wales squad announcement: Warren Gatland makes big changes for Six Nations". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ↑ undefined, undefined. "Wales name squad for 2025 Quilter Nations Series | Autumn Internationals Rugby - Quilter Nations Series". www.sixnationsrugby.com. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ↑ "Wales 28-52 Argentina: Reaction as hosts suffer record Pumas defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ↑ "Six Nations 2026: Wales prop Tomas Francis back as uncapped Louie Hennessey and Gabriel Hamer-Webb included". BBC Sport. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ↑ Thomas, Steffan (8 May 2024). "Young New Zealand rugby talent interests Welsh regions and he can play for Wales". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
External links
edit- Profile at wru.wales
- Profile at scarlets.wales
- Blair Murray at ItsRugby.co.uk