Ben Murphy’s Journey to the Arms Park
Ben Murphy’s rugby journey spans grassroots rugby, academy life at Worcester Warriors, leadership at Cardiff Met and a new chapter with Cardiff RFC at the Arms Park, driven by ambition, resilience and passion for the game.
Image credit: @CardiffMetSport/ Carl Robertson
Now that the new year is upon us, it’s a fresh start. Everybody is looking to put forward the best versions of themselves. When it comes to rugby, each player will be looking to give their all to a club, no matter the level. At the Arms Park, Ben Murphy will be hunting for impact with the iconic Cardiff RFC. From strong foundations to new challenges, his journey through the game has been rich with experience. Now, he looks ahead to adding another meaningful chapter to his rugby story.
Foundations
“Rugby, to me, is one of the most important things in my life. It’s been a part of my life since I stepped on a field at three or four years old, and since then it has always given me direction and purpose. I think no matter what happens in my career, it will always be a part of my life in some shape or form.”
Like many people who pick up a rugby ball, Murphy’s love for the game is evident. Of course, everybody starts somewhere. For Murphy, his love for the game began to blossom at King Edward’s Five Ways. It’s at clubs like this where young players learn rugby, not just the fundamentals like passing, kicking or tackling, but what makes the sport so special — things like teamwork, community and a deep passion. Murphy elaborates on his time at the club.
“My time playing with King Edward’s Five Ways will always be a special time for me. While a lot of my team-mates went down very different paths in all aspects of life, rugby at Five Ways always gives us some good laughs over a beer when we get the chance to meet up. Additionally, it was a huge part of building my confidence within the game. It’s where I started realising I could stand out and had some talent. My coaches, Mr Evans and Ollie Thomas, helped me realise my potential within rugby, and I’ll always be thankful for that.”
His talent was clear to see, and it didn’t take long for him to appear on Worcester’s radar.
Worcester Warriors
His development took shape at the Worcester Warriors Academy, where he trained daily in a Premiership-standard environment designed for elite rugby. Throughout his time at Worcester, he gained senior match experience with Luctonians RFC and Hartpury RFC. In 2021, he ran out for the Warriors in a Premiership Rugby Cup game against Gloucester, and that season the trophy was brought to Sixways. His spell at Worcester offered a priceless education, as he learned his trade alongside experienced professionals of the game. Murphy reflected on his time at Worcester.
“Being a part of Worcester Warriors was an interesting part of my career. The first year was a shock to the system. My season was purely training, and I got virtually no minutes under my belt all year. It was a frustrating time, but also a period where I felt my understanding of the game and my rugby ability improved by leaps and bounds. I think a huge part of that was my academy coach, Mike Hill, who was always making sure we were on top of our extras and learning. My second year was probably more enjoyable, being able to start playing again and getting some good game time at Luctonians (which will always be a special club to me), as well as making my Prem Cup debut against Gloucester in front of an almost sold-out crowd. Even though it never worked out for me there, the improvements I made were massive, and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity.”
Once that chapter ended, Murphy was in search of new opportunities. This was when he moved to Cyncoed Campus.
Cardiff Met
Image credit: @CardiffMetSport/ Carl Robertson
When thinking about professional establishments outside of the pro game, you would be hard-pressed to find better facilities — a place known for helping to nurture top-tier rugby talent. Players like Alex Cuthbert, Aaron Wainwright and Alex Dombrandt have all graced the pitches of Cyncoed.
Murphy enjoyed a fruitful spell at the university, where he competed in Super BUCS and the Welsh domestic league. His leadership qualities shone throughout the prop’s time at Cardiff. As captain, Murphy led the side through several major contests. A prime example of this was Cardiff Met’s monumental comeback against Bath, which secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2024/25 competition. Over the course of his Met spell, Murphy made a name for himself with his work rate and consistency. Murphy credits Cardiff Met for helping him develop.
“Cardiff Met was huge for me. After being let go from Worcester Warriors, I felt like I’d lost a part of my identity, and my love for rugby felt like it was fading. Cardiff Met allowed me to enjoy rugby again and massively boosted my confidence. Those three years will probably always be my favourite years in rugby.”
His spell at Cardiff Met ended before he made the short move to the Arms Park. A new challenge awaited.
Cardiff RFC
Murphy arrived at the Arms Park at the start of the 2025/26 season. Competing in the Super Rygbi Cymru, he has made appearances for the historic side. The prop made his first start against RGC and has featured in matchday squads regularly this season. Cardiff currently sit fourth in the table with 45 points, amassing seven wins and five losses. There is no doubt Murphy will give his all to help Cardiff achieve some big results. He talks about how much it means to play in the Welsh capital.
“Playing for Cardiff RFC is a massive honour for me. My dad’s from Cardiff, and he always tells me how he and his mates used to be big fans of the club. For me to be able to put on the shirt and have him watch me gives me a huge sense of pride and adds serious weight to it. He was telling me how, when his mates came to watch me with him, they were nudging him and saying his son’s a Cardiff RFC player now. I think it’s class that I have the opportunity to do this.”
A player of Murphy’s quality, the sky is the limit as he works towards the goal of becoming a professional player.
“Looking to the future, I’d love to get a professional contract. Having rugby as my career has been my dream since I was a kid, so I still hope that the opportunity comes my way if I’m playing well. And if not, then I think I’d use rugby to my advantage and try to play abroad for a few seasons. For now, though, I’m just going to keep my head down and try to perform at my best this year.”
Enriched by family and fuelled by passion, his journey reflects everything the game stands for — chasing big ambitions. The future is full of possibilities.
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