Gerry Murphy (rugby union, born 1926)

Canon John Gervase Maurice Walker Murphy LVO (20 August 1926 — 7 January 2014) was an army chaplain and international rugby union player from Northern Ireland.[1]

Gerry Murphy
Full nameJohn Gervase Maurice Walker Murphy
Date of birth(1926-08-20)20 August 1926
Place of birthBangor, Northern Ireland
Date of death7 January 2014(2014-01-07) (aged 87)
Place of deathNorfolk, England
SchoolMethodist College Belfast
UniversityTrinity College Dublin
Occupation(s)Clergy
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1951–58 Ireland 6 (5)

Born in Bangor, County Down, Murphy attended Methodist College Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, in between serving in the Royal Ulster Rifles. He played rugby as a fullback for Ireland while a curate in Lurgan, with appearances against the Springboks and All Blacks amongst his six caps.[2]

Murphy became a Royal Army chaplain in 1955. After 22 years as a chaplain, Murphy was appointed rector of the Norfolk parish of Ranworth and Rural Dean of Blofield. He was later Domestic chaplain to the Queen.[3]

In the 1987 New Year Honours, Murphy was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rugby international and former chaplain to queen". The Irish Times. 8 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Canon Gerry Murphy - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 23 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Gerry Murphy: Irish rugby star, Army padre and chaplain to the Queen". Belfast Telegraph. 12 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Gerry Murphy: Former Norfolk chaplain to the Queen was international rugby player". Eastern Daily Press. 13 January 2014.
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