David Murray (rugby union)

Murray earned his first provincial selection in 2013, when he represented the Eastern Province Country Districts at the premier schools tournament in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, held in Polokwane. Just two months later, he was also included in the Eastern Province U19 squad that participated in Group B of the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He started the final two matches of the regular season as they finished in third position to secure a semi-final spot. He also started their 45–30 victory over Boland U19 in the semi-final[2] and their 56–40 win over Falcons U19 in the final[3] to help his side become Group B champions. He also started their 27–20 victory over Border U19 in the promotion play-off as his side secured promotion to Group A for 2014.[4]

He again represented Eastern Province U19 in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship. After playing off the bench in their Round One defeat to Blue Bulls U19,[5] he made ten starts in their remaining eleven matches, helping them to sixth position on the log, winning four of their twelve matches.

Murray progressed to the Eastern Province U21 team in 2015 and he immediately established himself as a first team regular, starting all twelve of their matches in Group A of the Under-21 Provincial Championship. However, the team – who were promoted from Group B at the end of the 2014 season – struggled at their new level and won just one of their matches, finishing bottom of the log.

Following serious financial problems at the Eastern Province Kings at the end of the 2015 season which saw a number of first team regular leave the union,[6] a number of youngsters were promoted to the squad that competed in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series. Murray was among the players named in the squad[7] and he was named in the starting lineup for their first match of the season against the SWD Eagles,[8] playing the first 74 minutes of a 14–37 defeat.[9]