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Miss you already: Murray wants O’Gara back in Munster

But only after O’Gara wraps up the latest chapter in his ‘successful, interesting life.’

MUNSTER, IRELAND AND Lions scrum-half Conor Murray has called on the retired Ronan O’Gara to come back and coach his native province in future.

O’Gara announced his retirement last Saturday and revealed he will take up a coaching position with Paris club, Racing Metro.

Once that two-year contract has been completed, though, Murray would like to welcome his old half-back partner back into the fold.

“I don’t know what his long-term plans are,” Murray told TheScore.ie at the Lions training base in Carton House this week.

“It would be great to see him come back to Munster and maybe take a coaching role there in a few years’ time.

ROG’s succesful, interesting life

“He obviously has to pick it up first. I think the step of being a player into coaching is quite a big one and I think he knows that. He needs a bit of experience and that’s exactly what he’s doing.

“It’s a great move for him. It’s exciting, another chapter of his successful, interesting life.”

Along with Paul O’Connell, Murray was one half of the Irish contingent at Lions camp this week. Their presence the bright side of a disappointing Heineken Cup exit to eventual runners-up, Clermont.

“Being knocked out of a competition like that is very hard to take, but as the days and weeks go on you assess it and review it.“ Murray said after the grieving period had allowed him see some positives in Munster’s season.

“We beat Harlequins away and that was a great day when a lot of young players stood up that day.

“Against Clermont, realistically we could have been a lot further behind at half time. To still be in it and to be in with an opportunity to win it. That day again, young players stood up and looking to the future it’s really promising.

“I’m quite excited about that – next season is a long way away and I’ve other things to think about at the moment – but when that moment comes everyone in the squad will be really excited.”

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