Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh

J O R D I M U R P H Y

EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT CHA Having enjoyed a fantastic year which saw him collect PRO14, Champions Cup and 6 Nations Grand Slam titles, Jordi Murphy is now getting his teeth into the next challenge in his career following the summer switch to Ulster…

Following the extended break afforded to international players who represented Ireland during the tour of Australia, Murphy joined up with his new team-mates a few weeks into the pre-season programme and wasted no time getting settled in. “I really enjoyed pre-season,” explains Murphy. “My first week we had a camp up in Coleraine and Letterkenny, which was great. It was good to get away from the stadium and get to know the boys on an off-site week with a lot of activities going on as well as hard training. I know a few boys from playing age-grade rugby and playing for Ireland over the last couple of years, so it’s been good getting to know those guys better and then obviously just getting to know the rest of the lads. “In terms of the city, I know my way around IKEA well! For the first few weeks I was Google mapping everywhere. Now I’m testing myself and not using it while I’m in the car and trying to find places myself. I’ve just been spending the past month getting to know a city which I didn’t know at all before.” This Ulster side has experienced significant change over the past 12 months but Murphy is hugely optimistic about its future. “It’s an exciting time, it’s a relatively young squad so there is a great energy about. I think that rubs off and kick starts the older heads as well. It’s an ambitious group and I think that if we can mesh everything together - what

the coaches are asking of us and what we can deliver - then it’s an exciting time for the club. For myself personally, I’m really excited to be here. I want to contribute as much as I can and play to the best of my ability. It’s almost like a fresh start - everyone’s in a good place and they are all looking forward to the challenge of the season ahead. I suppose we don’t know where our ceiling is at the moment and that’s a positive.” Born in Barcelona, but bred in Blackrock, it’s now Belfast that Jordi will call home… “It’s only an hour and a half up the road, the fact that I could stay in Ireland and still be in contention for the Irish squad was a big contributing factor to move here. I spoke to the coaches and some of the players and it just seemed like the right move for me. “I know what it’s like to play here for Leinster against Ulster and how intimidating Kingspan Stadium is and how passionate the supporters are, so knowing that I would have that on my side was a huge positive in my decision to come here. “I can’t wait to get out there on Friday night, I’ve felt the wrath of the fans in the past and I can’t wait for them to be on my side now and to witness the intimidation happening to the opposition now instead! It’s an incredible set up and stadium so I’m looking forward to those big games where the stadium is packed out and the crowd is raising the roof.”

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