When it comes to friendship groups within the Irish provinces and the Ireland international setup, there's probably none stronger than the one that exists between Munster pair Conor Murray and Simon Zebo.
But after the end of this season, the duo won't be lining out with each other for the province and internationally at least for the foreseeable future now that Zebo will depart these shores.
But what does Murray make of the move? The Munster and Ireland scrum half was chatting to Nathan today at Vodafone Ireland’s Rugby Campaign Ahead Of The Guinness Series.
"I found out Sunday evening," he said when asked when he was informed that his team-mate would be heading to pastures new.
"I was at home. He just sent me a Snapchat first, just saying, 'You're going to miss me' and I knew there was chat about France.
"I had an inkling. If you'd asked me or if you'd put a gun to my head and asked me was he going to leave this time round, I would have been close to saying, 'I think he will'. He'd never give you a straight answer, Zeebs, and I'm well used to that. Just you could sense off him that if it was going to happen, it was going to be this time."
Conor Murray and Simon Zebo ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Once he received the Snapchat message, Murray rang Zebo and the latter informed him of his decision and echoed Zebo's reasoning around family and lifestyle.
"To leave Munster that he loves so dearly - like I don't think I've ever met a more proud Corkman and obviously a Munster man as well, he loves home - and to leave wasn't an easy decision," Murray added.
While he will miss Zebo's presence as a close friend, he also touched on the loss on field.
"If you take the friendship I have with him, he's one of my best mates, if you put that aside and just focus on the rugby, he's such a good player and a crowd favourite at Munster. His X-factor, he's one of our most talented players," he said.
"To lose someone like that is obviously going to hurt the squad. It's going to hurt us in Munster, it's going to hurt us in Ireland and that's just the reality of it.
"As a selfish point of view as a player - there's a friend thing that's tougher - but as a player, it's going to be frustrating and it will leave a void to be filled."
On interest from abroad in him, Murray explained that "two contracts ago", he thought about making a move outside Ireland but remains drawn to Munster and Ireland, and that players are looked after well here among other "outside factors that you have to consider".
Murray also discussed the other bits of upheaval at Munster like Rassie Eramsus' departure, admitting that he was very "frustrated" when he was first heard ther news but is looking forward to working with incoming head coach Johann van Graan, who he met for the first time last week.
Ireland and Munster scrum-half Conor Murray today launched “Who We Are is How We Play” the next phase of Vodafone Ireland’s “Team Of Us”sponsorship of the Irish rugby team.
Over the course of the Guinness Series Vodafone will show the regular personalities behind the players’ on pitch personas.
Fans will get a rare glimpse into the childhoods of Conor Murray, Rory Best, Tiernan O’Halloran and Tadgh Furlong in Vodafone’s new TV ad which will air from November 1st.
Vodafone will be bringing fans closer to the Irish Rugby team via social content, ticket competitions and exclusive, instant match highlights for all of Ireland’s international matches on the My Vodafone App.
Check out Vodafone.ie/rugby for all the latest #TeamOfUs news
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