It's great to have dad here for the game

Conor's father travelling to Nantes after recovering from cycle smash

- MICHAEL SCULLY

IRELAND star Conor Murray will warmly embrace a VIP in Nantes after tonight's Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga.

Among the many thousands of Ireland supporters who have invaded the French city for the crucial Pool B encounter will be Murray's father, Gerry, who suffered a near fatal traffic accident in February.

A keen cyclist, Gerry was hit by a van while on his bike in his native Limerick, on the N20 near Patrickswell, in the week of Ireland's crunch Six Nations clash with France.

The force of the collision led to him being induced in a coma for five days and Conor travelled up and down to be at his hospital bedside.