Rhuaidhri Murphy, class '06, Prop down Under

Congratulations to past man Rhuaidhri Murphy, class of 2006, who is making great strides in Austrailian Rugby Union where coach Jake White makes no secret of the long-term plan "to develop him as a future Wallaby".

Well done Rhuaidhri.

POS: Prop
DOB: 5/7/1987, Dublin
H/W: 1.87m, 119kg

He was born in Dublin and won a Grand Slam with Eric Elwood’s Irish U20s five years ago but Ruaidhri Murphy spent 14 years in Australia and is determined to wade his way through any amount of red tape to represent the Wallabies. Murphy’s family owns a Perth-based mining business and he holds an Australian and Irish passport but, to be available for Wallabies selection, he or his parents must have been born in Australia, or lived there for the past three years. The ARU are working to have that reviewed by the IRB and the man who played backup to Cian Healy and Jamie Hagan in 2007 has been pinpointed as a future Australian international by his Brumbies coach Jake White.

The Brumbies are hoping that one of their new Super Rugby recruits for the 2012 season, Ruaidhri Murphy, will bring them the luck of the Irish. Joining the Brumbies after playing his way through the Irish aged-grade system and a two-year spell with English Premiership side Exeter has hardened the young prop into a quality scrummager and able defender. But it's his move to Canberra and to the Brumbies that Murphy is most proud of. 2012 will provide the young bookend with ample chances to impress and he is fully aware of the opportunities that await him.

"I've settled in nicely, living in Kingston with the vast majority of the team has been a great way to get the group together," Murphy said. "Most of the boys live within one or two blocks from my front door so there are plenty of coffee opportunities. "We're living in each other's pockets spending most of the day together at training and then away from rugby too so we've all become pretty close in a short amount of time."

If you are struggling with the Celtic spelling of Murphy's first name don't feel like you're alone. Rhuaidhri - or 'Rory' as it would have been spelled had he been born to Australian parents - has proudly represented Ireland at Under 19 and Under 20's but is now keen to wear the gold of Australia. It will take some time to gain residency and to be classed Australian by the IRB, but that's not a problem for Murphy as his development into a world-class prop steadily continues.

"Moving to Canberra has been a good opportunity for me to come to terms with what it takes to be a Super Rugby player in comparison to what I've played before," Murphy said. "I learned tough lessons on professional rugby while I was young - I was involved with some of the best set ups in Europe at Exeter and Leinster. "But being in Canberra, preparing for a Super Rugby season with the Brumbies is the dream. It's where I want to be and what I want to do with my life."

Former Irish U-20 star poised for Super 15 debut

With the Irish emigrating in their thousands, Ruaidhri Murphy's story shouldn't seem that surprising. Except that Murphy's arrival in Australia marks a sort of homecoming. Prop Murphy spent 14 years growing up in Australia -- his family owns a Perth-based mining business -- but even he would admit that the majority of his rugby apprenticeship was spent in Ireland. Yet there is a good chance that his swift progress under Jake White at the ACT Brumbies -- he benches for their Super 15 opener tomorrow -- could see him involved in a heart-rending tug-of-love as he contemplates life as a wannabe Wallaby.

He schooled at Castleknock College, played at an under-age World Cup in Dubai and won a Grand Slam with the U-20s in 2007 alongside Cian Healy, Felix Jones and Keith Earls. Having spent three seasons in the Leinster Academy, he joined Exeter Chiefs two seasons ago, but now he finds himself under the tutelage of a World Cup-winning coach and beginning life as -- potentially -- an Australian international in the making. "I was nearing the end of my second season with the Exeter Chiefs and was in negotiations with other clubs," he explains. "At the time I very nearly signed with London Wasps, but it fell through due to internal trouble. "My agent had been approached by the ARU to discuss me coming to Australia. "ARU officials then guided my move over and I initially played in the Queensland Rugby Championship hoping to earn a Super 15 contract. "After a short time I got a call from Laurie Fisher asking me to attend a Brumbies end-of-season trial camp. "On the second day of the camp, I sat down with Jake White and negotiated a Super Rugby contract."

It's been a whirlwind change of fortunes for Murphy in a side that, Wallabies trio Pat McCabe, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander aside, is an extremely greenhorn outfit, led by rookie captain Ben Mowen. Now 24, Murphy holds Australian and Irish passports, but to be available for Wallabies selection, he or his parents must have been born in Australia, or lived in the country for the past 36 months. The ARU will ask the IRB to review their position in the hope that Murphy would be able to play for the Wallabies should he have a sparkling debut Super Rugby season. "However, Ireland is, of course, still very close to my heart and in coming here, I have had to leave my family behind," he admits.

"So, it would be wrong of me to say I would never return. But for now, my only goal is to play good rugby for the Brumbies."