The Latest On Conor Murray’s Fitness

Conor Murray could return to action against Connacht this weekend.

The Ireland scrumhalf hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder against Wales in the Six Nations back in March, and has missed Munster’s last six games including their Champions Cup semi-final loss to Saracens.

Munster’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus reckons there is a chance Murray could be fit enough to feature against Connacht in the PRO12 this Saturday, but doesn’t want him to be in a rush to prove his fitness ahead of the Lions tour and their Guinness Pro12 semi-final.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland said Murray must prove his fitness ahead of this summer’s tour of New Zealand, and Erasmus says Murray is perhaps conscious of that.

I think maybe Conor is conscious of that, but he hasn’t been saying anything along those lines. I think it would be normal if he felt that way, it only comes around every four years but also you can’t be stupid,” said Erasmus.

“After this Lions series his rugby career is not over; he’s got another few years to go. So obviously that plays a role, but that won’t rush him back. If we didn’t rush him back for the Champions Cup semi-final in Ireland why would we now rush him back all of a sudden? I’m sure there will be other Lions players who will still get injured before the tour.

“He is definitely progressing, he is definitely getting better. I hope he gets a game in. There is definitely two games to go, hopefully in one of those two. He’ll again be touch and go for this week.

“Every week he contributes more in training sessions and he is doing more and more and more. And he has been ticking all the boxes — much slower than we hoped to– but he is ticking the boxes. Hopefully this week he gets to the end of the week and we can actually select him. So there is a chance, there is a chance.”