Murphy call puts Tigers under strain

Ireland wing Geordan Murphy joined Leicester?s expanding Six Nations parade yesterday, increasing the danger of the English champions? title defence being sabotaged by international demands.

The day after England summoned eight Leicester players to their squad for next month?s Grand Slam decider in Dublin, Ireland chose Murphy to make his Six Nations debut against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Murphy, one of five rugby playing brothers, is among seven changes from Ireland?s home win over France last February before the foot-andmouth epidemic forced the postponement of their matches in Edinburgh, Wales in Cardiff and England at Lansdowne Road.

While the Irish were heralding Murphy?s inclusion, Tigers manager Dean Richards was prowling the touchline of Cardiff?s Millennium Stadium, where it was announced that this season?s European Heineken Cup Final is to be held on May 25.

Leicester aim to be there, of course, but the domestic situation prevented Richards from contemplating the prospect of becoming the first club to retain the European crown. The venue, chosen before the start of the European campaign, offers Richards, coach John Wells, Johnson and a few other survivors to exorcise the memory of their last Cardiff final, at the old Arms Park, where they were beaten by Brive in 1997.

Rather than look back, Leicester are far more concerned at the handicap placed on their bid for a fourth consecutive English crown. The Premiership?s decision to play through the international schedule means that Leicester could be without nine players ? Murphy plus the England mob, Martin Johnson, Graham Rowntree, Dorian West, Ben Kay, Martin Corry, Neil Back, Lewis Moody and Austin Healey ? for four matches, including Sale away on November 17.