David Murray (rugby union)

David George Murray (born 7 March 1995 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently with the Eastern Province Kings in Currie Cup rugby.[1] His regular position is loosehead prop.

David Murray

Full name	David George Murray
Date of birth	(1995-03-07) 7 March 1995
Place of birth	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
School	St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loosehead prop Current team Southern Kings Youth career 2013 Eastern Province Country Districts 2013–2016 Eastern Province Kings Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016 Eastern Province Kings 8 (5) Correct as of 22 July 2016

Rugby career

2013–14: Craven Week and Under-19 rugby

Murray earned his first provincial selection in 2013, when he represented the Eastern Province Country Districts at the premier schools tournament in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, held in Polokwane. Just two months later, he was also included in the Eastern Province U19 squad that participated in Group B of the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He started the final two matches of the regular season as they finished in third position to secure a semi-final spot. He also started their 45–30 victory over Boland U19 in the semi-final[2] and their 56–40 win over Falcons U19 in the final[3] to help his side become Group B champions. He also started their 27–20 victory over Border U19 in the promotion play-off as his side secured promotion to Group A for 2014.[4]

He again represented Eastern Province U19 in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship. After playing off the bench in their Round One defeat to Blue Bulls U19,[5] he made ten starts in their remaining eleven matches, helping them to sixth position on the log, winning four of their twelve matches.

2015–: Under-21 and Currie Cup rugby

Murray progressed to the Eastern Province U21 team in 2015 and he immediately established himself as a first team regular, starting all twelve of their matches in Group A of the Under-21 Provincial Championship. However, the team – who were promoted from Group B at the end of the 2014 season – struggled at their new level and won just one of their matches, finishing bottom of the log.

Following serious financial problems at the Eastern Province Kings at the end of the 2015 season which saw a number of first team regular leave the union,[6] a number of youngsters were promoted to the squad that competed in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series. Murray was among the players named in the squad[7] and he was named in the starting lineup for their first match of the season against the SWD Eagles,[8] playing the first 74 minutes of a 14–37 defeat.[9]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – David Murray". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Boland 30-45 EP Kings". South African Rugby Union. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 40-56 EP Kings". South African Rugby Union. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 20-27 EP Kings". South African Rugby Union. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls U19 29-17 EP Kings U19". South African Rugby Union. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
6. "Kings facing player exodus?". Rugby365. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
7. "SA Rugby Squad – EP Kings : 2016 Currie Cup Qualifying". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
8. "EP Kings team announced for SWD Eagles match". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – EP Kings 14-37 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.