World Cup - Scotland hit by prop's Sabbath stand
Scotland's hopes of going any further in the Rugby World Cup have been hit by Euan Murray's refusal to play matches on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Glaswegian prop - described by coach Andy Robinson as "the best scrummager" in the side - will sit out Sunday's critical clash with Argentina, an all-or-nothing game almost certain to decide which of the teams makes it into the quarter-finals.
Murray is then hoping to earn his spot back for Scotland's final group match against England - though if Scotland progress to the last eight, he would be unavailable for selection for either the quarter-finals or semi-finals.
"It's basically all or nothing, following Jesus. I don't believe in pick 'n' mix Christianity," explained Murray, who used to play for Scotland on Sundays until 2009.
"I believe the Bible is the word of God, so who am I to ignore something from it?
"I might as well tear out that page then keep tearing out pages as and when it suits me. If I started out like that there would soon be nothing left."
Murray's decision echoes that of Eric Liddell, the Scottish athlete who refused to run in the 100m at the 1924 Olympics since his heat was on a Sunday - a decision immortalised in the film 'Chariots of Fire'.
And in more recent times, New Zealand dropped All Black legend Michael Jones from the squad for the 1995 World Cup since his refusal to play on Sundays would rule him out of both quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Murray is resolute, despite knowing that Robinson will almost certainly want to stick with the same, settled XV should Scotland beat Argentina at the weekend.
"I want to live my life believing and doing the things (God) wants and the Sabbath day is a full day," he said.
"It's not a case of a couple of hours in church then playing rugby or going down the pub, it's the full day."
The demands of TV scheduling and advertisers - which indirectly pay for the entire tournament, and the salaries of all players - mean that big matches at the World Cup are invariably scheduled on weekends, to allow for the widest possible viewing audience across the planet.
But Murray hopes that, one day in the future, such concerns might be put aside to enable him to play in every match.
"I don't see why there have to be games on Sundays," he said. "I hope things will change in future."
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gods no paying his wages so he should have been left at home
simple, drop him from the team the rules are games are played on sunday so he wasting a space which Scotland could have benefited from. I admire his stance but for Scotland he doesn't play or get picked until he changes his stance on sunday rugby,.
Who is more important? Your Country? Our your outdated beliefs? Drop him from future selection.
Karl G. What DO you believe in? - except yourself, of course!
Oh and as for the guy that mentioned principles. What about the principles of living up to your commitments to you felow teammates or the principle of being loyal to your country having accepted the cap. That is the trouble with people that stand on a principle they must break a whole list of other principles to do it.
The guy should never have been chosen since he is in fact so unprincipled and is an embarrasement for Scottish Rugby.
MAY HE ROT IN THE HELL HE MUST BELIEVE IN THROUGH HIS STUPIDITY!
It just goes to show that even rugby has its share of dummies! We are in the 21st Century and we are still plagued by stupid supertisions.
It's about time the Jocks started getting back to Jesus!
Thank God for real men!!!! todays wimps bend with the wind...this man not only look s like a wall but has the character to back up his faith and beliefs....thats a man of God right there. Well done matey!
What a nobber. Playing for your country is much more important than paying homage to an arabic fairy tale
He says "why shold there be games on a Sunday? " ..well why on a Saturday? That would mean Jewish players and Seventh Day Adventists can not play. On a Friday, Muslim players can not play. Why should they be excluded? Is a game working? Does he watch his Mother cook for him on a Sunday? I bet he does.
he must have told them before they went over so its up to him
He talks the talk and walks the walk..well done Euan, dont think this is a surprise, everybody knew he would not play on a sunday, some of the comments are embarrassing, maybe they just dont understand a guy that has principles.
Some of the comments so far are shameful.
I applaud the stated mission of the Scotland rugby team, which is something along the lines of "Inspiring a nation through their performance on a rugby pitch". I'm definitely not religious, but Murray may inspire more than a nation through both his performances and his beliefs, and for that he is worthy of respect.
It doesn't come down to one man, and it doesn't come down to his beliefs adversely impacting the team's ability to succeed. It comes down to standing up for your beliefs in a constructive way while supporting your colleagues in what they are trying to achieve. I am hopeful the team are capable of responding positively to that: a lesson we all should be capable of admiring and learning from.
I want Scotland to succeed, I want the UK (not just Scotland) to be inspired by their performances. I believe they might just have the ability to do so.
In the fullness of time, we may remember Murray as much for his stance as his undoubted skills on a rugby pitch, and I, for one, am comfortable with that
A man of principle, to be respected. He's not telling others what to do...just doing what he believes.
If only everyone had principles and stuck to them. After all,England believe in dwarf-throwing, and we should respect them for that...
This religious stuff really hacks me off, after all it is a game of sport. May I suggest he plays for free and donates his earnings for that day to charity. Then it would not be paid work, just a game of sport that is allowed on the so called day of sabbbath. Besides, priests etc work on Sunday, and get paid. The bloke has been brainwashed. Does he go to the pub on Sunday as paid workers will serve him. May one of the England team stick a bible up him where the sun does not shine when they meet. Nick
well, if he is not paid for the game on Sunday, that would mean he did not earn any wages, you only earn wages if you WORK for them, since he will not be getting paid, does that mean he did not work?
I take it if he had a heart attack on a Sunday he would not call 999. I hope if he did he would not abuse the people helping him for working on a Sunday. He is just using his faith to grab all of the attention. There is nothing in the bible that says you have to rest on sunday. Like there is nothing in the Koran that says you have to pray at certain time. If there had been these religions would not have got off the ground.
The words "religious nut" comes to mind.
Jesus worked on Sundays.
Drop him - permanently
An international side cannot afford part timers.
Well done for keeping to his believes.
A shame though that he will be letting his team mates down if he truly is their best srummaging prop and therefore the team will be weaker.
However incredibly stupid selection process by Andy Robinson knowing that at least one group game, the quarter final, the semi final and the final are all on Sundays. He obviously is not expecting his team to progress!!!
I feel sorry for the player who has missed out on a squad place to this guy.
Can't fault Eaun for sticking to his principles and he should be applauded even though it could be considered self fish, however silly choice by Robinson. Must be demoralising for the team knowing their best scrum man will be sat in the stands when they face one of the best scrums in the world!!
What a player! He knows what will last for eternity.
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