Wales' remarkable success story this season still has one more chapter to write
The Wales full-back has enjoyed a remarkable first season since moving from New Zealand, but one thing still eludes him
Blair Murray of Wales
(Image: 2025 Getty Images )
When Blair Murray arrived in Llanelli last year, the versatile back-three was hoping for just a handful of appearances in his debut season with the Scarlets.
A coffee with Leigh Halfpenny while the former Wales full-back was playing in Christchurch with the Crusaders convinced Murray that a move from New Zealand to Wales was the right one, but the former New Plymouth Boys' pupil - whose mother hails from Tonyrefail - had tempered expectations for what he was about to head into.
Instead, a whirlwind ride has followed for the electric 23-year-old. Thrown into the Scarlets' starting side straight away, it's been some maiden campaign in Wales for Murray.
Quickly becoming an important part of Dwayne Peel's side, he crossed for 11 tries in 17 starts for the Scarlets, helping them to the United Rugby Championship play-offs and earning him a place in the league's Elite XV at the end of the season.
His form also warranted a call-up by Wales at the first opportunity, with Warren Gatland handing him his Test debut against Fiji last November. Since then, he's been involved in every Wales match this season.
As he once again starts in Kobe this weekend, his first season in Welsh rugby will end with him already in double figures in terms of caps.
Article continues below
His name was even regularly thrown into the mix when it came to picking the British and Irish Lions squad. When the time comes to take it all in, it's been some rise.
"I haven't really had the time to sit and reflect on the first season," Murray tells WalesOnline in Kobe. "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster.
"Coming from where I was to where I am now, I wouldn't have expected any of it. If I think about it, it's been awesome. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
"I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had. The opportunities with the Scarlets in terms of game-time and letting me express myself. And then being the Wales set-up as well, it's been awesome.
"When I signed with the Scarlets, I was thinking I might get three to five games for them and then hopefully next year I'd be able to work my way into the starting team. So being put straight into the starting squad and getting as much game time as I did, I was stoked.
"I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity. It's been amazing."
In terms of cultural differences, as anyone who has visited Aotearoa, there's not a whole lot of difference between Wales and New Zealand. There's always been a kind of bond between the countries, so that part was fairly simple for Murray.
"In terms of culture, it didn't feel too different coming over," he added. "It helped I had family in Wales and near Bristol as well.
"Having people nearby that I can talk to and see if I need it, I never really felt homesick which was massive for me. Obviously my girlfriend came over with me as well. That's made it a lot easier here.
"It's just different playing styles I guess. There's a lot more running rugby back in New Zealand.
"Here, it's a lot more structure-based. A lot more kicking and territory.
"Rugby-wise, I remember the first month I struggled a little bit with the amount of kicking. You say the Scarlets are known for throwing it about, but for me it didn't feel like that at all!
"For me, it felt like we didn't run at all and were just kicking everything. Once I understood it and we got a bit experience as a group, it became a lot better and I started to really enjoy it after a bit."
Murray was quite a find for the Scarlets. When they signed him, he'd played just eight games for Canterbury's NPC side, while he'd been told there was no place for him at the Crusaders in the short term. Most of his development came with the University of Canterbury Vipers - making his rapid rise all the more remarkable.
Halfpenny was at the Crusaders when Murray was trying to force his way in - with the former Wales full-back, who is now coaching Wales on this tour, offering some sound advice.
"I had chats with him," he said. "When the Scarlets offered me a contract, I had a coffee with him, just asking him what it was like.
"He said I'd love it here and it'd be perfect for me. He helped me make a decision and make it more clear for me.
"Now that he's in the set-up, it's quite cool to have another familiar face coming in. He's been a massive help.
"He's one of the best full-backs to ever do it. The help he's had on me, in terms of positioning and skillset, has been amazing.
"He's on the quiet side. But as a coach, he's been awesome. He hasn't been afraid to step into the team meetings and say his word.
"He's helped me a lot individually. I know he's done it with other boys, getting us on our own and showing us clips. He's been great."
Despite the quick ascension to Test double figures, there's still something Murray hasn't crossed off his list - a victory at international level.
He's not alone in that regard, with so many of this Wales side having not tasted it for some time. Last weekend, 17 consecutive Test defeats became 18 - with a picture of Murray on his haunches after the full-time whistle perfectly illustrating the devastation of that latest defeat.
"I just took a moment with myself to let it all sink in," he says about that moment. "It was a heart-breaking loss.
"It felt like we were on to win. We just couldn't quite finish the job.
"So I took a moment to myself to reflect, then it's getting around the boys to make sure we're all sticking together. It's a tough loss.
"We're going into half-time 19-7 up and it's still the same with 20 minutes to go. We felt like we were in a comfortable spot to win.
"We just lost momentum and things didn't really go our way. It's a heart-breaking loss."
Despite that, Murray has no doubt in his mind that that run - the elephant that has been present in the room for over 600 days now - will be buried this weekend.
"I feel confident we can get the win," he added. "I felt like we should have won last week and we can get the win.
"It's just making sure we do stay in the game for the whole 80 minutes, sticking to our game plan. But I'm confident. Obviously, it's matters who shows up on the day.
"Japan are a good side. They've got class players, attacking shape is great and they're known for playing fast and scoring tries. As long as we stay switched on for the whole 80 minutes, we've got a good shot and should get the win.
Article continues below
"Everyone knows that we're in a low point at the moment. We all want to get the win and be the team to end it. It's exciting for us to have the opportunity to get that done."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
25 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Lions eye series victory against Australia – talking points ahead of second Test
A flawless record of seven wins since arriving Down Under has placed the Lions on the brink of an achievement that has only been managed twice before in the professional era. Successful Lions tours are the exception, not the rule, but they are overwhelming favourites to crush Australia for the second time. The persistent rain forecast to fall throughout Saturday could be a leveller, but on the strength of a one-sided first Test, Andy Farrell's men should be comfortable winners. We're ready for you Melbourne! 🔜🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 25, 2025 The Wallabies are not just playing to keep the series alive, but also their credibility as a tour destination for the elite of British and Irish rugby. These are difficult times for Australian rugby and even though their precarious finances have been shored up by the Lions' visit, problems abound on and off the field. It is imperative that they take the series to a decider by rising to the occasion in Melbourne. If they lose again, calls for the Lions to instead turn their attention to the mouth-watering prospect of a tour to France will only grow louder. For all their difficulties, Joe Schmidt's men are not without hope for their shot at levelling the series. They scored more points in the second-half at Suncorp Stadium where, unexpectedly, their bench made the greater impact. Reinforcing their assault on the Lions are the return of powerful forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, whose very presence after missing the first Test because of calf injuries should prevent their pack being bullied again. Valetini's ball carrying at the blindside flanker is a particularly important weapon. A rock in red! 💪🔴#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 24, 2025 One of the most fascinating stories of the tour took another twist when Owen Farrell was named on the bench for the MCG clash. If he comes on, the former England captain will be making his first Test appearance in almost two years. Even after two quietly encouraging performances on tour, including a full 80 minutes on Tuesday when he proved his fitness following a season of injury setbacks, the involvement of Andy Farrell's son as a late call-up divides opinion, but so far his presence has only benefitted the squad. Much of the spotlight this week has fallen on Owen Farrell, allowing the Lions' real star to glide into the second Test relatively unnoticed. In Brisbane, Finn Russell was mesmerising at times during a first half when his passing repeatedly unlocked Australia's defence. Aided by a dominant pack and the generalship of scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park, the 32-year-old is functioning at the peak of his powers and has another opportunity to prove that on current form, he is the game's standout fly-half.
Leader Live
25 minutes ago
- Leader Live
McLaren's Oscar Piastri quickest in practice for Belgian Grand Prix
Piastri, who holds an eight-point lead over Norris at the midway stage of the season, saw off Red Bull's Max Verstappen by four tenths with Norris 0.504 seconds behind his McLaren team-mate. George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, one place ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton was sixth, one second off the pace. Our top three in FP1 (the only practice session this weekend) 🥇 Oscar🥈 Max🥉 Lando#F1 #BelgianGP — Formula 1 (@F1) July 25, 2025 Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is this weekend absent from a Formula One event for the first time in 20 years following his dramatic dismissal earlier this month. Horner was released from his position 18 months after he was accused of 'inappropriate behaviour' by a female staff member – although he was twice exonerated – and Red Bull's dramatic slump in form. Four-time world champion Verstappen has won just four of the last 26 races he has competed in. Occupying Horner's seat on the Red Bull pit wall is Frenchman Laurent Mekies, and he oversaw Verstappen splitting the McLaren drivers. However, Yuki Tsunoda was only 18th in the other Red Bull. Norris arrived in Spa-Francorchamps with back-to-back victories after triumphs in Austria and his home race at Silverstone. But the British driver appears to have his work cut out to stop Piastri at Spa-Francorchamps after the Australian set a blistering pace in the sole practice session on Friday. Hamilton might have hoped an upgraded rear suspension on his Ferrari will reverse his fortunes. Yet the seven-time world champion was a distant sixth in his Ferrari. Earlier in the session, Hamilton also courted the wrath of Gabriel Bortoleto after the rookie accused him of driving slowly through the high-speed Radillon. 'Mate what the f*** is Hamilton doing?' he yelled. 'He is always in the middle of the track.' Qualifying for Saturday's sprint race takes place at 1630 local time (1530 BST).
Leader Live
25 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Alice Pumphrey will cheer on Lionesses with no regrets over switch to boxing
The Blackpool 19-year-old, who has been named in the 16-strong Great Britain squad for September's World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, was scouted by Manchester United at the age of 11 and signed an academy contract with every intention of making it to the top of the sport. But Pumphrey became hooked after heading to her local boxing gym for the first time to improve her fitness, and almost immediately made the tough decision to rip up her deal with the Red Devils and devote herself full-time to her new obsession. 'I'd been playing football almost every day since the age of four, and I was scouted when I was 11 and playing with a boys' team in Fleetwood,' Pumphrey told the PA news agency. 'I went for a trial with United and they said they were going to give me a contract. That meant I could only play for United, so on the days I couldn't play I got bored and went to the gym for extra fitness. 'After a week I told my dad I wanted to box. He told me to see the season out with United and they tried to convince me to stay. But by then I knew what I wanted to do.' Pumphrey's decision has proved a wise one. A slew of English, British and European junior titles followed, culminating in a world under-19 title in Colorado towards the end of last year, and a full-time place on the GB Boxing squad. She is bullish about her future prospects – having targeted Olympic gold in Los Angeles, followed by turning professional and winning undisputed titles at four different weights – and will stop at nothing to achieve it, uprooting from the west coast to relocate to Batley where she trains in the Purge gym. Pumphrey, once a fleet-footed left winger, is the same age as Lionesses saviour Michelle Agyemang, who will aim to summon more heroics when England face Spain in the European Championship on Sunday. But while she will be an avid viewer, the light-flyweight will not once stop to wonder what might have been had she decided not to follow her heart through those gym doors seven years ago. 'I've never regretted it,' she added. 'In football you've got 10 other people and subs who you have to rely on to win a game, but in the boxing ring it's down to you to perform. 'I don't like having to depend on other people. In that ring it's you and the person who is trying to take your head off, and that's what I love.'
