IRELAND AND LEINSTER out-half Johnny Sexton has been named World Rugby’s Player of the Year at a ceremony in Monte Carlo this evening.
The 33-year-old was voted the winner ahead of previous two-time winner Beauden Barrett, his fellow All Black Rieko Ioane and South African pair Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx.
Sexton’s win sees him follow in the footsteps of Keith Wood, who claimed Ireland’s only other win of the award in its inaugural year in 2001.
Since then, the southern hemisphere has dominated the prize and New Zealand have accounted for each of the last six winners.
Sexton is the sixth northern hemisphere winner of the gong after Wood, Fabien Galthie, Jonny Wilkinson, Shane Williams and Thierry Dusautoir.
It was a night for the ages in Monte Carlo with Ireland named World Rugby Team of the Year too and Joe Schmidt scooping the Coach of the Year award.
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Excellent
@Martin Quinn: Christ a very excited man we have here
@Martin Quinn: Great work, well done Johnny, thoroughly deserved and perhaps even overdue! Long may your career last
@Howard wolowitz: best player in the world of nine nations is probably a more apt title.
All the same, outstanding
@TheHospitalPass: football is no different. How many teams have won the FIFA world cup. Even worse, how many have made it to the final. About 9 I’d say. So your point makes no sense
@Anthony: also how many teams are capable of winning the all ireland football final? Doesn’t stop everyone here going bonkers over it either does it?
@Anthony: there has been a different winner of the last five world cups in football.
There have only ever been four teams to win the rugby World Cup.
One is a turkey shoot to the quarters, the other is competitive (Germany and Spain out in group stages this year). Just saying
@TheHospitalPass:
There have only been 8 rugby world cups and England got dumped out of the groups in the last one.
It’s not much different to soccer.
@TheHospitalPass: 8 Teams have won 21 FIFA world cups. 4 winners in 7 for rugby, don’t be so sour. Just saying.
@Gareth Keenan: sure only 100 or so play this sad game.
@Anthony: “football is no different. ” LOL. You serious? You comparing football to rugby? There are essentially only 9 established Elite Class Rugby Nations, the rest are developing Nations. Football? Many a quality football Nation haven’t won the WC. Belgium have won little, are they a joke? Hardly. Until recently, Portugal National Team won nothing yet their clubs and National team have been a prominent feature in Europe. What has/did Russia or USSR won? Your comparison is laughable. All nations have to qualify for the WC or Continental tournaments. We have seen the Netherlands fail to do so the odd time and they have undisputed elite pedigree. None of the 6 European Nations have to worry about WC qualifications, even Scotland . Joke of a comparison
Some achievement, what a baller , well done Johnny
Incredibly well deserved, he’s been one of the greatest players to have garnered the blue jersey’s of St Mary’s college & Leinster and the green jersey of Ireland.
It’s been a privilege watching him develop as a player since his schools days until now and hopefully he can have another successful season with Leinster this season, help defend our 6n title and fingers and toes crossed he’ll be a major part of winning the big one.
@Ian Verdon: stopped reading after the first chapter , yawn
@Howard wolowitz: well it’s about your bed time so glad I could help you get to sleep.
@Howard wolowitz: I’ve noticed that 99% of your input on here is at best a neanderthal’s level at attempting to troll peoples well educated and well constructed posts which has led me to believe you’re the result of ten generations of inbreeding god love you. I am going to ignore your comments from now on because someone with as substantial an empty void of space inside their cranium such as yourself doesn’t deserve me to entertain the pure troglodyte level of intellect you possess. Have a good one.
@Ian Verdon: kiss my arse you fool Ahahah
@Ian Verdon: Well, maybe you should go also then Jeff because…er…you couldn’t see driving home the other night because you’ve…you don’t even wear your glasses in…in…er…TV in case you get…you get slagged off so you just…er..you just stick to Specsavers and I’ll do
@Martin Quinn: I am actually a huge irish rugby fan but just not a fan of reading bullshit , thanks man
@Ian Verdon Did you hear about Ben ?
@Ian Verdon: I was just thinking about him going back to Mary’s and then getting back into the Leinster team. It’s an unbelievable achievement. I’m delighted for him.
@Ned Flanders: if I remember correctly you look just like Mr.Verdon , Coincidence I think not
@Howard wolowitz: Haha
@Howard wolowitz: why are u wasting your time on this thread if it’s boring u. Jog on
@Howard wolowitz: he owned u lol
@Ian Verdon: brilliant
@Ian Verdon: Here’s a funny one for you. I remember hearing about him being targeted by teams back in his Senior Cup days because he was seen as a weak link defensively and to be mentally fragile. That’s gas to look back on now!!
@Howard wolowitz: try a bit of wit u will never be a good troll without being a little funny r clever
Awesome achievement
Best player
Best coach
Best team
What a year :)
He was literally speechless!!!
@COYBIG: that was hilarious
@Paddington C.: cheers thanks
@COYBIG: Were the awards on TV? Dam it I missed them.
@James Clancy: they were on the world rugby YouTube page live
That moment against France in the Six Nations opener will live long in the Memory. Congrats Jonathan Sexton. #COYBIG
@Brian Gibbons: Yep!
That’s the moment for me too.
Congratulations Johnny! Well well deserved!
Proper order. Congrats
Clean sweep for Ireland what a team
Brilliant, so well deserved
@Rob K: Rob Kearney are ya well
Top choice. Top men all of them but Sexton has been sublime. So well deserved. Absolutely delighted for him.
@Dave Russell: are you my twin?
@Stuart Quinn: where’s Bertram?
YUP THE JOHNNY FELLA
That’s class. It felt like it was going to be a great season the moment he hit that drop goal in Paris and this is the icing on the cake for what’s been an incredible year from Sexton. Couldn’t have went to a more deserving player.
@Evan Kavanagh: have went?
Get in ….
So well deserved, head and shoulders above the competition in my opinion.
Simply the best.
@Etherman: betterrrr thannnnnn alllll the rest
@Howard wolowitz: Fool
@Enda McCallion
@enda did you hear about Neil?
YYYYEEEEEEAAAAAAAA
What an honour – that kick v France alone was workd class
@Martin Brennan: your probably right there yano
Not a bad day for Ireland
What a king
Congrats Johnny
Well deserved!!!
Delighted for him, fully deserved
Well done Johnny, well deserved and more to come.. COYBIG…
Congrats
Very well deserved. So funny watching it, what an awful day to lose your voice!
Way better than o gara
@Fred McHugh: Stay classy.
@Fred McHugh: Good man, Fred. You must have spent long hours coming up with that one,
@Fred McHugh: shur Ronan coached him langball
Settles the Irish 10 debate once and for all
@Bob Joe: yeah Robbie Keane still way out on top
@Bob Joe: Ah there was never any doubt on that. Carbery and Byrne just aren’t at his level.
UP JOHNNY
Unbelievable from all some achievement from Irish rugby. I blame nucifora
@Barry Newell: Unbelievably, some of our northern friends still do.
Brilliant. Well deserved. Congratulations Johnny
congrats to Johnny. well deserved award
No better man.
Johnny, you legend!
A year to early though because of the world cup (two in a row)
@Stephan Antuma: what does his arse taste like chap
Well deserved
UP JOHNNY
Baller
Faf de Klerk hard done by I reckon
@Big Smoke: troll
@Big Smoke: faf is overrated. Murray is way better and should have been nominated
Faf deserves to lose for his hair alone. Awful barnet
@Carl: probably the only reason he doesn’t deserve it
@Big Smoke: its unfair to say someone is a troll just because they say another player has been hard done by. Any of the players nominated would have been worthy winners
@Sam Harms: Dead right Sam. People are only open minded when it’s convenient for them
He’s just holding it for ROG
Where defuq is my “Fan of the Year” award? Some going, a year for the ages.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: aha I’m pissing meself laughing at ya
@Tomás O’Loughlin: shut the fcuk up please
@Howard wolowitz this Tomas boy has no life
@maurice the turkey: ahhhhhh sure look
@Howard wolowitz the only sound Tomas boy in this comment section Thomas o Connor
@maurice the turkey: your a dry turkey , over cooked
Wow roll on World Cup
Well done Johnny, the Irish team and Joe Schmidt!
A sandwich for Sexton a Sexton sandwich please
Fantastic achievement
Well done completely deserves it because he is
It was impossible to not give him it. He has been peerless in 2018. Congratulations Johnny!
Delighted… Class professional and a class individual. Hopefully all our kids can follow this young mans footsteps a true IRISH HERO….
Take a bow Johnny
Massive congratulations to Johnny Sexton, Joe Schmidt and all the Irish teams! Well deserved to you all..#COYBIG
Well deserved Johnny!! Congrats!!
I assume this makes him best fly-half/out-half/scrum-half (no idea) in the world!! FFS. 8 competing teams
@rufustfirefly: I love it. You admit to having no idea. No doubt about that.
Too right!
As insufferable as he is off the pitch how did O’Driscoll not win one
@Bill Clay: What do the 1st 8 words have to do with anything?
I wonder will we get to see a recording of the event that took place in Monte Carlo on any of the Irish channels. I’m surprised that it wasn’t shown live on RTE or Eir sports.
@Noel Martin: just googled it there and watched it on Joe.ie, brilliant!!
Incredible, that’s put a smile on my face tonight. Congratulations Johnny, Ireland and Joe!!!
Some achievement for Irish rugby to cap an incredible year but god it makes me wonder if we’re hitting our stride too soon. I don’t think we have but there’s the slightest doubt in the back of my mind!!
Same can’t be said for that Cringe Mace Ad.
@Adrianh_80: Why? Why did you feel the need to make that comment?
It has no relevance at all to anything
This comments section has become an absolute sh!tshow lately.
It’s just a group of kids calling each other idiots
This is why we can’t have nice things
Well hurrah for D4!!!
W
Oh my Warren Gatland will be seething- Ireland beware of Wales
One hundred percent deserved. Carter , Sexton, Barrett , O’Gara , & Wilkinson in that order.
@John Carey: Wilkinson would have to be ahead of O’Gara and probably ahead of Sexton
Totally overrated
Whilst the team did incredibly well against RSA I really missed him.So very well deserved for a fantastic fella!
French clubs will have interest in
Signing Sexton … I’ll get my coat
Pro14
6 Nations
Beaten All Blacks
Well deserved