Scotland prop Euan Murray has retired from the international game with immediate effect leaving Vern Cotter with a tight-head sized headache for the World Cup.
The 34-year-old made 66 appearances for his country, but the match where he passed Allan Jacobsen as Scotland’s most capped prop, against Ireland in March, will be his last.
Murray was expected to call time on his international career after the World Cup in October but with wife Sarah due to give birth to their third child in August, he believes he cannot give the attention to international rugby it requires.
“I am extremely proud and grateful to have represented the people of Scotland at rugby for so long,” he said. “I will retire with many great memories of victories, tours, and friends, both in the playing squad and team management.
“I have to be with my family as much as possible before and after the birth of our third child this summer. Clearly, with the Rugby World Cup looming, the national squad will be training and playing throughout that period and I have too much respect for the national jersey to put myself forward in those circumstances.
“I’ve made this decision now after much deliberation and lengthy discussions with team management so that they can plan ahead accordingly.”
Murray is out of contract at the end of this season with Glasgow Warriors, the club he began his professional career with in 2000 and returned to this season after a seven-year gap playing with Northampton, Agen, Newcastle and Worcester.
The prop remains in discussion with the Warriors management about a new deal and is also thought to be weighing offers from elsewhere.
Scotland head coach Vern Cotter said: “I’d like to thank Euan for his hard work and application during my time here.
“At his best Euan was a world-class tight-head prop. On behalf of the team and management I wish Euan and his family all the very best.”
It’s a big blow for Cotter and the international team, however, with Murray the first choice in the pivotal position of tight-head when he was available as a committed Christian he made himself unavailable for selection on Sundays in 2010 and probably missed as many as 10 additional caps as a result.
Geoff Cross has been the regular back-up with Jon Welsh also in the training squad while Edinburgh’s South African-born tight-head WP Nel becomes available for Scotland selection this summer having completed a three-year residency spell.
Nel is one of four players and the only one from Edinburgh – named to the Guinness PRO12 “Dream Team”, selected by journalists from the four countries represented in the league and revealed yesterday.
Glasgow Warriors have three players in the team in wing Tommy Seymour, centre Peter Horne and the No 8 and captain Josh Strauss who also becomes available for Scotland due to residency this summer.
The Warriors also announced yesterday that they have sold out the enlarged Scotstoun Stadium for Saturday’s final league game of the season against Ulster.
Glasgow have to win, preferably with a try bonus point, to secure a home semi-final in the PRO12 play-offs. The stadium has been enlarged to a capacity of 10,000 with temporary stands to accommodate last weekend’s World Rugby Sevens tournament