Blair Murray
{{short description|Wales international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Blair Murray
| image = Blair Murray 2025.jpg
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|9|df=y}}{{cite web|title=Blair Murray|website=itsrugby|accessdate=27 August 2024|url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/blair-murray-54086.html}}
| birth_place = Hāwera, New Zealand
| height = {{convert|173|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|75|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| school = New Plymouth Boys' High School
| university =
| relatives =
| currentclub = Scarlets
| position = Fly-half
Wing
Full-back
| clubs1 = Canterbury
| years1 = 2022–2023
| apps1 = 8
| points1 = 35
| clubs2 = Scarlets
| years2 = 2024–
| apps2 = 16
| points2 = 50
| repyears1 = 2024–
| repteam1 = Wales
| repcaps1 = 8
| reppoints1 = 5
}}
Blair Murray (born 9 October 2001) is a professional rugby union player who plays for United Rugby Championship side Scarlets and the Wales national rugby union team.
Early life
From Hāwera, Murray attended New Plymouth Boys' High School and played for New Zealand Schools.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/116247256/is-this-the-next-christian-cullen-kiwi-youngster-creates-buzz-with-spectacular-try|website=Stuff.co.nz|accessdate=12 March 2024|title=Kiwi youngster Blair Murray creates buzz with spectacular try|date=1 October 2019}} He played for Southern Rugby Club.
Club career
=Canterbury=
He is capable of playing at fly-half or across the back line at wing or full-back.{{cite news|title=Welsh-qualified Kiwi Blair Murray becomes Scarlets' latest signing|date=13 Jun 2024|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/welsh-qualified-kiwi-blair-murray-becomes-scarlets-latest-signing/|website=Rugby Pass|accessdate=27 August 2024}} Between 2021 and 2023, he played for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship.{{cite web|title=Blair Murray|accessdate=12 May 2024|url=https://all.rugby/player/blair-murray|website=All Rugby}}
=Scarlets=
He signed for Welsh side Scarlets of the United Rugby Championship in June 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c2jj9vlyn53o|date=13 June 2024|accessdate=27 August 2024|title=Scarlets sign Welsh-qualified back Murray|website=BBC Sport}} Murray made his debut for the Scarlets on 7 September 2024 in a pre-season friendly against Leicester Tigers.{{Cite news |date=7 September 2024 |title=Scarlets defeated at Welford Road |url=https://www.scarlets.wales/article/scarlets-defeated-at-welford-road/ |access-date=26 September 2024 |website=Scarlets Rugby }} His competitive debut came on 21 September, in the opening round against Benetton, nearly scoring on his first appearance.{{Cite news |title=Benetton salvage late draw against Scarlets |url=https://rugby365.com/tournaments/united-rugby-championship/benetton-salvage-late-draw-against-scarlets/ |access-date=26 September 2024 |website=rugby365.com }} His first try came on 18 October 2024, in a win over the Bulls, and scored again the following week against Zebre Parma.{{Cite news |date=17 October 2024 |title=Scarlets 23-22 Bulls: Hosts celebrate win against 14-man visitors |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cr540lqq44yo |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=BBC Sport }}{{Cite news |date=24 October 2024 |title=United Rugby Championship: Scarlets secure bonus-point win over Zebre |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cy9je15xpdlo |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=BBC Sport }}
In his first season with the Scarlets, Murray was named as the players’ player of the season during the end of season awards.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-23 |title=Marnus, Blair and Josh take accolades at Scarlets awards evening |url=https://www.scarlets.wales/article/marnus-blair-and-josh-take-accolades-at-scarlets-awards-evening/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Scarlets Rugby |language=en-US}}
International career
= Wales =
He was called-up to the Wales national team for the first time in October 2024 for the 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals.{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Lloyd |title=Uncapped Thomas and Murray in Wales autumn squad |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cm24m29ey34o |website=BBC Sport |date=21 October 2024 |accessdate=21 October 2024 }} Murray made his debut on 10 November 2024, starting on the wing against Fiji, and scored his first try during the match{{cite news |first=Gareth |last=Griffiths |title=Wing Murray to make Wales debut against Fiji |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cvg466zxm30o |website=BBC Sport |access-date=8 November 2024}} He started against Australia the following week, before moving to fullback for the final fixture against South Africa.{{cite news |title=Wales v South Africa: Fly-half Sam Costelow recalled to face Springboks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c0qd2p7dyjeo |website=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2024 |access-date=23 January 2025 }}
Murray was retained in the squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship.{{cite news |first=Dylan |last=James |title=Wales squad announcement: Warren Gatland makes big changes for Six Nations |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-squad-announcement-live-warren-30762110 |website=Wales Online |date=13 January 2025 |access-date=23 January 2025 }}
Personal life
He is Welsh qualified through his mother, who is from Tonyrefail.{{cite news |first=Steffan |last=Thomas |title=Young New Zealand rugby talent interests Welsh regions and he can play for Wales |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/young-new-zealand-rugby-talent-29131473 |website=Wales Online |date=8 May 2024 |accessdate=12 May 2024 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.wru.wales/player/blair-murray/ Profile] at wru.wales
- [https://www.scarlets.wales/person/blair-murray/ Profile] at scarlets.wales
- {{ItsRugby profile|id=54086|name=Blair Murray}}
{{Scarlets squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Blair}}
Category:Rugby union players from Hāwera
Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen
Category:Welsh rugby union players
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Rugby union fly-halves
Category:Wales international rugby union players
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