Conor Murray on picking baby names, where he and Joanna will raise the baby and ruling out retirement

The Munster and Ireland rugby star and his wife Joanna Cooper are preparing to become first time parents and they are looking to the future to see where they will live and when Conor will hang up his boots

Conor Murray has joked that he and his wife Joanna Cooper have found it it hard picking out baby names because played alongside and against a lot of names over the years.

The Munster and Ireland rugby star has veto'd a number of names during their selection process at home.

The couple, who tied the knot last June, will be based in Limerick when the little one arrives, and they plan to stay there until he retires in the future.

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Conor told RSVP Magazine: "That’s so true, especially with boys’ names. I’ve said no to 90% of the suggestions because it’s the name of somebody on the team or somebody I’ve met along the way.

"Girls’ names are way easier. We don’t know what we’re having, so if it’s a boy he could remain nameless for a bit."

Conor and Joanna will be based in Limerick when the baby arrives next month, but they move to Dublin in the future.

He joked: "I’ve been with Munster all of my career. I’ve at least another year left.

"Where we’ll go after is the million dollar question. We are in Limerick at the moment, but she is from Derry.

"We drove up there the other day and I am still tired from it. So we will go for somewhere in the middle, maybe. Dublin could be the ideal landing spot when rugby finishes up.

"I was looking at house prices and they are a bit saucy. Moving house and having a baby at the same time could be too stressful. We’ll chill out in Limerick for a while."

Conor happy to stay going with his rugby career and he has no plans to slow down and retire anytime soon.

The dad-to-be said: "I’m very fortunate to still be playing because I’ve seen people retire a lot younger because of injury. I am 35 now and I always said I would stop at 35 or 36.

"I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot so I will say nothing and see if they want me to keep going. I will keep playing as long as my body holds up and, right now, it feels great.

"But at the moment I feel good and things went well in South Africa for the tour during the summer. Being involved with Ireland is a huge buzz so as long as I can keep that going I will stick around as long as they want me here."

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Irish rugby star Conor Murray and Joanna Cooper's remodelled home with plans for baby's nursery

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Conor has to keep one eye on what he will do next when the time comes to hang up his boots.

He said: "You’re right. That’s the big question for sportspeople, what will you do when the time comes to hang up the boots?

"You’re always aware that it will end one day so you do have to keep an eye on it. I will do a host of things.

"I like the hospitality industry and there are a few options on the table. I will take a bit of time off once I retire and see what passions I have."

Tommy Bowe has made a big career in broadcasting, presenting Ireland AM and rugby coverage since leaving professional sport.

Conor said: "Tommy broke the mould and went for presenting rather than punditry and he’s absolutely flying it. Maybe I’ll do some sort of punditry.

"I know coaching is something I won’t do. It is something I know I don’t have the motivation for. Rugby has given me so much over the last 15 years, so I’d like to stay close enough to it."

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Read the full interview with Conor Murray in this month’s issue of RSVP Magazine, on shelves nationwide now

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