Rugby player opts out for church

[travelling_gerry]

• From: AFP
• December 16, 2009 7:45AM

EUAN Murray will miss Scotland's Six Nations opener against France at Murrayfield on February 7 because his religious beliefs mean he can no longer play on Sundays.


For prop forward Murray, playing sport on Sundays is no longer compatible with his Christian faith. The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) said they understood the 29-year-old Northampton front row's position and insisted Murray would remain a member of their Test squad.

Murray follows in the footsteps of New Zealand great Michael Jones, whose Christian beliefs saw him miss several World Cup matches in 1991 and be left out of the All Blacks' squad for the 1995 tournament because the quarter and semi-finals were scheduled for Sundays.

Murray's case also echoes the life of Scotland sporting hero Eric Liddell, a brilliant athlete who also won seven caps as a rugby union winger. Liddell refused to take part in the 100 metres, his strongest event, in the 1924 Paris Olympics because the heats fell on a Sunday.

Instead he switched to the 400m and won a gold medal, while also collecting a bronze in the 200m. Liddell's story was dramatised in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225810810198

[The EnForcer]

I have been to places in Scotland where the kids swings in parks are padlocked on Sundays. I know I should respect his beliefs but when religion becomes a killjoy then I find it hard to.

[palitu]

I have been to places in Scotland where the kids swings in parks are padlocked on Sundays. I know I should respect his beliefs but when religion becomes a killjoy then I find it hard to.

whose job was it to go around on a sunday and padlock them??

Also, isn't the priest working whilst he is giving his sermon at church??

[beige]

I have been to places in Scotland where the kids swings in parks are padlocked on Sundays. I know I should respect his beliefs but when religion becomes a killjoy then I find it hard to.

Says somebody celebrating Christ's birth with a picture of a naked chick

From memory Michael Jones never played on Sunday either, right?

[Burgs]

So he must be more Christian than the other Christians who play on Sundays...

[tragic]

Yes, Burgs. All those other guys on the pitch are all going to hell.

[Burgs]

Should make for some good matches in Hades Park...

[AndyS]

Sweet, so Heaven will finally get some away games!

[brokendown gunfighter]

Sweet, so Heaven will finally get some away games!

wee bit of a problem there,with their away jumper being red

[The Man]

How would we feel if Dave Pocock did this?

[James]

If it was always someone's religion then thats cool but it seems a bit silly if someone just decides to start not playing on Sundays. I'm pretty sure Dave has already played for us against the Crusaders on a Sunday. I'm pretty sure that the Force players could justify playing on Sunday religiously after all the Force is bigger than God.

[brokendown gunfighter]

& didnt Jesus play fullback for Jerusalem?

[travelling_gerry]

Only once, the rest of his time was at prop.

[tragic]

If rugby declared itself to be a religion, it would be tax-exempt

[brokendown gunfighter]

If rugby declared itself to be a religion, it would be tax-exempt

& tickets(donations) would be tax deductible