'I've not got my head around it' – Geordan Murphy on his cross-code return

When rugby union and rugby league attempted to join forces at Headingley in the past, fans of the predominantly northern code would even turn their backs on the pitch in disgust.

Banners saying “100% League, 0% Union” and “Get off our Pitch” were unfurled during a union curtain-raiser to a Leeds Rhinos match in the early noughties from natives used to watching thirteen men not fifteen, as Leeds Tykes took on Llanelli in a pre-season friendly.

The Tykes have since departed, to the leafier surrounds of Bramhope on the outskirts of Leeds, but on Sunday the two codes will be reunited again at Headingley, and this time the spirit will be very much one of togetherness.

Legend of both sports have agreed to come out of retirement and play in the charity ‘745’ cross-code game between union and league, played under specially adapted hybrid rules, which will raise money to fund the quest for a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

It is the brainchild of Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow, who died from MND in June aged 41, and ex-Gloucester lock Ed Slater, who was diagnosed with the terminal illness in July 2022. The name of the match derives from the shirt numbers worn by Burrow (7), Slater (4) and their friend Doddie Weir (5), who died from MND in November 2022.

Former Ireland international and Leicester great Geordan Murphy played with and coached Slater during their time together at Tigers and was more than happy to get involved and do his bit, alongside the likes of Danny Cipriani, who spearheads the union team.

The prospect of facing league hard men like Keith Senior and Adrian Morley is not something the 76-cap international has got his head around yet.

“I’ve got out a couple of pairs of boots that actually fit and dusted them down. I haven’t actually physically trained for anything in about five years. I don’t even have a gumshield, that’s how bad it is. I’ll have to find something between now and then,” he said.

“I retired 11 years ago and I haven’t pulled on any boots in anger for maybe six-seven years ago for Barnesy’s (Wayne Barnes) charity. That was pretty horrific to be quite honest with you. So it is a bit of a stretch! I haven’t got my head around any of it.

“When Ed spoke to me, he said ‘you’re in’ and I said, ‘honestly, I’m not’. But he insisted, ‘you’re coming’. So I wasn’t going to let him down and I was 100% on board. It is not something that you would volunteer for in normal circumstances but I guess these aren’t normal circumstances.

“It was a bit of a shock to us all when Ed came out with news of his diagnosis. His mates just want to support him. It’s nice to be able to do something for the charity.”

By Murphy’s own admission, he hopes the rugby league interchange subs rule will work in his favour.

“The interchange is obviously something that I am very interested in. I see myself interchanging off quite regularly. I am hoping that they have a full roster and that I’ll just be able to do the kick-off, or receive a kick-off and kick it off the field, or something. I am not planning on playing 80 minutes!

“Some fantastic players are going to be involved and I am hoping that we get a big crowd there in support of what is an unbelievable cause.”

Murphy has played on the hallowed Headingley turf twice before, and was starting full-back when a stellar Leicester team, which included England World Cup winners Martin Johnson, Julian White, Martin Corry and Neil Back in the pack, lost by a point to Leeds, 22-23 in 2005.

It’s a ground that Burrow lit up many, many times in the blue and amber of the Rhinos, and Murphy says he’s always been a fan of the pocket-rocket dummy-half.

“Rob is a guy who I would have watched play and admired as a rugby player.

“There is always this myth that rugby league and rugby union hated each other. I used to love watching it, and he would be one of the players because of his size and character that people were naturally drawn to. He was completely fearless and always punched above his weight and was incredibly skilful.”

Organisers of the 745 Game are hoping for a crowd in excess of 7,500.

Tickets are available at tickets.therhinos.co.uk and by calling 0371 423 1315 during normal office hours.