Noel Murphy (rugby union, born 1937)

Noel Murphy (born 20 December 1937) is a former Irish rugby union player and coach. He primarily played as a prop.

Playing Career:

Murphy played club rugby for University College Cork (UCC) and later for Cork Constitution. He represented Munster at provincial level. He earned 25 caps for Ireland between 1959 and 1969, captaining the team on 11 occasions. He was known for his strong scrummaging and uncompromising style of play. He was part of the Irish team that shared the 1964 Five Nations Championship title. He also toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 1962, playing in one test match.

Coaching Career:

Following his playing career, Murphy moved into coaching. He served as the coach of the Ireland national rugby union team from 1977 to 1980. He also coached Munster.