When he was growing up, all Liam Murray wanted to do was play rugby.

He had watched his older brother play, but there were no youth rugby programs available in Prince George, where he was living with his family when he was younger, and it wasn't until they moved to 91Ô­´´ when Murray was 10 and he got his chance.

"I’ve always wanted to play since I was maybe six, seven or eight years old. ... I always asked my Dad, 'Do they have a kids team, do they have a kids team?' Then we got back to 91Ô­´´, and they did. (The) first thing I joined was the rugby (club) there," Murray said from Dallas, Texas last week, where he plays with the in Major League Rugby (MLR).

He said there's a variety of reasons why he enjoys playing the sport so much. 

"The physicality and the team – just being part of the team like that, and getting to rely on each other – there’s just something about having a big challenge in your life ... you wake up and challenge yourself every day to be better, and be the best, if you can," said Murray. 

It certainly seems Murray has risen to any challenges he's set. Having since travelled to Ontario on Monday (July 1), Murray is now preparing to play with Canada’s men’s rugby team for the Ottawa summer fixtures against Scotland and Romania on July 6 and 12. It will be his seventh time playing rugby for Team Canada.

He'll be joined by three White Rock teammates on the 34-man rugby 15s senior men's roster: Calixto Matinez and twin brothers . 

The also boasts plenty of other talent from all across Canada, many of whom play on MLR teams like Murray, including his Dallas teammate Nic Benn, a regular starter this season with the Jackals, and the brothers McMullin, who have both excelled with the University of British Columbia.

While Canadian sports like hockey and lacrosse are known to be physical, rugby takes "tough" to a whole other level.

Murray, whose role is that of prop, notes that players only wear mouth guards, metal cleats, and socks as gear when they play.

"We don’t work in shifts or lines like hockey or football or basketball – they can get a break. If you’re a rugby player and you start the game, you could be out there for 80 minutes straight with a 10-minute halftime and there’s no breaks in play either – no stoppages unless there’s a penalty or turnover ... even then you've gotta run to your spot and go right away."

As prop, Murray knows his role isn't necessarily to score a lot of points each game. 

"I've got to hold it down at the front of the scrum. I’m a platform to put energy through, so that we can fight the other eight, so I get all the pressure at the front," he explained. "I’m not gonna be a big ball carrier who runs down the sideline, but I’ll do the dirty work, and I’ll be in the tight, dark spaces. I’m not going to go and score 20 points for you, but I’ll set it up and I’ll make sure the other team knows I’m on the field with the pressure I can give them."

Head coach Kingsley Jones was pleased with his roster this year. 

"I’m excited to get the group together – we haven’t seen each other since November last year , so we're excited to challenge such a good team as Scotland," Jones said from Ottawa Tuesday. "(The) challenges are that we have a short time together – five days to prepare – but that’s international rugby."

"I’m hoping for a really good performance... we want to start well and be in the game going into the second half and that depends on how we perform with our set pieces et cetera, making sure we have a solid platform. We feel we have players that can cause problems, with some really good players on the edges," said Jones. 

He was happy to have Murray back on Team Canada.

"I’ve worked with Liam since he was a youngster and it’s great to see him. He’s playing very well down in Dallas," Jones said. "He’s a really effective scrimmaging prop and he’s got a big part to play."

He was also glad to see Martinez and the McMullin brothers return.

"It’s great to have them here."

Canada will take on Scotland on Saturday, July 6 at 5 p.m. ET and Romania on Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m. ET; both matches take place at TD Place and will be televised and streamed online.

"Scotland is top six in the world – they can beat anyone on their day. They are one of the best teams in the world," Jones said. "It's fantastic for us to have the chance to play against the team and measure where we’re at."

Murray is pleased his parents are travelling to Ottawa to see him in action.

"It will be my first time playing in front of them wearing a Canadian jersey, so I’m real excited about that, it's an extra little motivator," he said. "Honestly, if we could just get together against Scotland and play some good rugby, some exciting stuff for the fans, that would be a win," Murray said. "Then we’re really going for the win against Romania. I’m expecting a good crowd and some good atmosphere at TD Stadium."

The summer fixtures are the start of the squad's journey to the Rugby World Cup, next scheduled for 2027 in Australia, Jones noted.

“This is the start of our pathway to Rugby World Cup qualification. We have a balance of players whose international experience will be crucial as we take on a strong Scotland team with a short runway for preparation," he said, adding Scotland is likely the highest-ranked team they've played since the team's 2021 England/Wales tour. "The qualification process is a month out for us. We know what we need to do, and this is the start of it."

While he enjoys living in Texas, Murray is always glad to come home to B.C. and visit with family and friends during the summer – especially this summer, as he'll get to play again at B.C. Place on , when his team will open the Pacific Nations Cup against Japan in Vancouver, marking the fifth time BC Place has hosted an international test match, and the first time Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has played in Vancouver since 2019. 

Murray gave a shout out to 91Ô­´´ Rugby Club, where he started, and said if there's time, he hopes to participate in a youth camp or clinic.

"I'm just looking forward to playing in front of my friends, family and fellow Canadians, and being back home for a bit," he said.

"I can’t wait to be back."