Noel Murphy Honoured at IRB Awards

The International Rugby Board awarded Noel Murphy with the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service this week with the presentation made at the Ninth IRB General Assembly in Dublin.

Noel Murphy received the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service, one of Rugby’s highest accolades, in recognition of remarkable achievements in the Game as a player, coach and leading administrator.

Noel and his family hold a unique family record with three generations capped for Munster and Ireland at senior level. Noel Snr., Noel and his son Kenny all received caps for Munster and Ireland, while Noel’s other son Charlie also represented Munster.

Murphy was capped 41 times for Ireland between 1958 and 1969 including 5 as captain, as well as touring twice with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand and Australia in 1959 and 1966 and again as coach in 1980.

After hanging up his boots in 1969, Noel returned to coach Cork Constitution, moving on to coach Munster and ultimately Ireland from 1977 to 1980. A fine career was capped with service as President of the IRFU and as an IRB Council Member.

On winning the award Noel said "It’s a tremendous honour to hold a Vernon Pugh award named after a man who gave so much to rugby. Rugby is something special; it gave me the opportunity to meet people and to make friends. Those friends you make and the friends you keep, that’s what makes our Game so unique."

"Noel Murphy is a true embodiment of the dedication, integrity and passion for the Game which gave the Vernon Pugh Award its eponymous title. There are few people who excel as a player, coach and administrator, but Noel has done all three with vigour and dedication. We are all extremely grateful for his immense contribution to the Game," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.