SRU respects Euan Murray's plan not to play Sundays

Published on Tuesday 15 December 2009 22:22

EUAN Murray's decision to sit out Scotland's opening RBS Six Nations match – against France on Sunday, 7 February – because of his religious views has the full backing of coach Andy Robinson.

• Euan Murray turned to religion in 2005 after becoming disillusioned with the path his life was taking. Picture: SNS

Devout Christian Murray has decided he can no longer play on Sundays and has made himself unavailable for selection for the Murrayfield curtain-raiser.

The SRU is adamant his decision will not affect his selection prospects for the rest of the Six Nations, with Scotland's other matches all falling on Saturdays, and Robinson said: "He has said he won't play on Sunday's; he's going to give himself to God. And that's right. That is what he believes. It's not something some of us do, but we're not Euan Murray and we have to respect his choice."

Murray has played for Scotland on a Sunday before and turned out for his club, Northampton, in a Guinness Premiership defeat by London Wasps on Sunday, 22 February. But the 28-year-old admitted earlier in the year that he had been wrestling with his conscience over the issue.

The tighthead prop developed his religious views in 2005 after a string of injuries threatened to end his career. He suffered a torn quad muscle, a neck injury and an Achilles problem and decided to transform his life after an on-pitch collision sparked a severe seizure while he was playing for Glasgow.

Speaking in 2006, Murray said: "I always suspected that all my injuries were due to the way I was leading my life, and I thought maybe I should change. Then I heard the gospel which is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and realised that I had to believe that with all my heart.

"This faith was a major factor in my decision to carry on playing rugby. I felt I was leading an immoral lifestyle."

The SRU, meanwhile, has provisionally lined up a challenging autumn Test series for next year with New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa all set to visit Murrayfield.