Updated 20:10
JONNY SEXTON HAS dismissed reports linking him with a move back to Leinster and Ireland in the summer. The Irish out-half addressed recent reports about him leaving Racing Métro after only a season to return home well in advance of the 2015 World Cup.
Speaking on 2FM’s Game On, Sexton said, “That’s not going to happen.” The 28-year-old told host Damien O’Meara he had always strived to tell both sides of the story following his move to France, from Leinster, but feels the media has only picked up on comments about his initial struggles to settle in Paris. “Me and my wife are settled. We have a baby due in July and it’ll be born in Paris, please God.”
Sexton flew into Dublin on Sunday afternoon with the rest of his Irish teammates but returned to Paris today and will have a medical with his club later this week. The out-half will follow return to play protocols after shipping a concussive blow against France on Saturday.
Racing are in the hunt for a Heineken Cup spot and Sexton may yet be drafted into their squad for an away date with Grenoble on 22 March. While the majority of Ireland’s triumphant Six Nations squad will sit out this weekend’s RaboDirect Pro12 action, Sexton, if fit, could feature in the Top 14. For precedent, look no further than Toulouse coach Guy Novés’ decision to recall six French internationals — including Yoann Huget and Louis Picamoles — for Saturday’s encounter with Stade Francais.
The fact that Sexton may be called upon so soon after a gruelling seven week period will be disconcerting for Ireland coach Joe Schmidt. The New Zealander has already complained about the heavy workload his starting 10 has been dealt with this season. As recently as two weeks ago, Schmidt highlighted a communication breakdown between Racing and the IRFU when the French side ruled Sexton out for ’10 days to six weeks’ with an injured thumb.
Midi Olympique, the newspaper that first reported Sexton’s move from Leinster to Racing, was the latest publication to speculate on a possible return to Ireland for the 28-year-old. ”According to our information,” Midol stated today, “the possibility of a Sexton return to Ireland in June has increased significantly in the last week.”
The notion was first broached by Peter O’Reilly in The Sunday Times in early March but the IRFU’s stance has been not to comment on Sexton’s as he is not yet halfway through a two-year contract with Racing.
Brian O’Driscoll was asked about a possible Sexton return on 3 March and responded, “I don’t want to talk out of turn where Jonny is contracted to Racing, and I think it would be disrespectful to them to say there we’re looking at taking him away from them.” However, O’Driscoll added, “I think everyone is in agreement that we didn’t want to see him go, and if a situation arose where he did come back, and some agreement was made, well I don’t see that possibly being a negative.”
Midol’s article declared Racing are willing to open the door for a Sexton departure, providing they are adequately compensated. Sexton is the Top 14′s highest paid player, on a basic wage of approximately €560,000 with bonuses and add-ons.
Although it now seems unlikely, the IRFU would have to buy Sexton out of his contract and match his salary terms. Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt would be eager to get his star out-half back in Ireland as he plots a Six Nations defence and making waves at the 2015 World Cup. That possibility now appears to be distant.
*You can listen to the Sexton/Game On interview here >>
”The IRFU would have to buy Sexton out of his contract and match his salary terms.”
If they couldn’t match his salary to keep him at Leinster how can they match it now on top of buying out his contract?
He just rubbished this story again on 2FM.
Should never be allowed back into the Country after what he did to D’arcys Beard.
Sexton coming back so soon could be the death sentence for Madigan’s international career. Not sure how to feel about this.
Not if he joined Munster.
It s time Schmidt & the IRFU look beyond the pale !!! Are you seriously saying Madigain is the second best fly half in the country at the moment ???
Really !!!
Yes, yes we are…
Which 10 was on the bench for 4 out of 5 of Ireland’s 6 Nations games Sharkey?
The wrong one … Like many others on the bench
So if not Jackson, do you want Hanrahan or Keately? Hanrahan is halfway through his first season of professional rugby, and Keatley is being kept out of the squad by him.
So, yeah. What?
“So ya what ” There is no point in even entertaining a comment like that.
Do ye know in the pale that the “I” in IRFU stands for Ireland !!
Who is it you suggest is the next best in Ireland then Derek? There’s no point saying look beyond the pale without informing us of your suggestions for the position.
If we can grown up and get over this munster/leinster shit and get back to the original point, I think it would be best if johnny left Racing but not perhaps to come home just yet. Racing are a joke and it was a terrible decision for him to go there. However if he were to return now it would definitely hamper the development of the rest of the pool whether it’s madigan at leinster, jackson, keatley or hanrahan or whoever hits form at the right time. The way I see it Madigan does shade it at the moment but whose to say in the next year that won’t change and jackson or the munster pair won’t take a jump in form or madigan a slump. We need these guys to get game time at whatever level they can get, with johnny back we have limited one of those possibles to an also ran! This is a good argument to have lads, we have one world class player and a number in development. Now grow up, whethee he’s a leinster, munster or ulster man he’ll be wearing a green jersey when it matters!
Ridiculous, the IRFU would be more than stupid to do that. He is a great player but made his decision to play in france. Madigan now deserves to be supported and backed fully by Leinster, he is a superb 10 that will get even better and no doubt will be vying for the 10 green jersey soon along with others on the way up.
You made your bed lad. Now lie in it. Irfu shouldn’t be digging deep into the pockets because the bigger fish bowl isn’t to his taste.
Sexton is a bottler. Cost Ireland grand slam and first ever victory against All Blacks.
Hasn’t got it, fact.
Yet scored two tries on Saturday to secure the championship…..FACT!
He defo hasnt the bottle for kicking,
Super at linking play and attacking lines,but isnt ‘World Class’ from the tee
Confused dot com, “hasn’t got it, fact” you really are confused aren’t you. So the Irish, French (RM) and lions coaching team were wrong to pick him as first choice number 10? you poor confused boy. :)
He’ll prove it again and again and again. He hasn’t got the bottle. Couldn’t kick snow off a rope.
He was fine until he got a new kicking coach, his standards have dropped since
And yet he has a higher kicking % at international level than ROG.
I’ll take a bottler who won
3 Heineken cups
A lions series
A six nations championship
Rabbo league
Amlin cup
Anyday of the week, the only 10 on the planet better is carter
Leave him where he is and invest in youth. Sexton only a few years left in him as it is. Time to look to the future beyond next world cup.
I definitely think Sexton should remain where he is for the time being. If he came back, he and Madigan would try to compete against each other too much. True that Madigan has to deal with Gopperth but it wouldn’t help him if Sexton came back. Both can establish much more responsibility for game time over the next few years.
He wouldn’t even make the bench for Arsenal. Best club in the world – fact
Just look at Wenger’s coat lads…couldn’t buy that kind of passion
So you’re suggesting the majority of professional rugby players would walk onto a professional team in a completely different sport.
I think the problem isn’t the league (Many internationals have been fine in France) but the club. Racing feel like the QPR of Rugby, newly minted but don’t have the depth so they’re relying on the big stars too much. He should have gone to Toulon if he wanted France so badly, Wilkinsons on his way out and so Sexton could have been rotated this season then take over next. Plus with Halfpenny coming in he wouldn’t have to worry about goal kicking either.
Obviously he could still go but with James O’Connor moving there it’s unlikely they can afford another superstar there so soon after recruiting Habana/Halfpenny/O’Connor
He does look a little off the boil compared to last year but also need to factor in the Lions tour on top of his move to France. He hasn’t had a break. A lot of the Welsh guys look wrecked too….. Hopefully things will settle down for him over the next few months…. (& we can’t afford to buy him out anyway)
Who says he would have to rejoin Leinster if he returned to Ireland?
Common sense it’s not like he’d be keen to join Munster after all the years of abuse he’s got down there.
Get with the program Ricky.
Welcome to the era of pro sport.
Ask sexton which Provence he’d want to come back to then
Your employer decides how you can best serve the organisation.
Is Provence a province in Ireland now?
The IRFU are not his employers that’s the whole point. He will have to agree people aren’t slaves in the pro sports era.
Are you hard of reading Rick?
If he returns to Ireland he will go where his employers, the IRFU, tell him.
Sorry David you must be a bit thick the IRFU are not his current employers therefore if he were to come back which I doubt he will have to agree to a new central contract which will specify which province he will play for.
Sigh.
Are we not discussing the eventuality whereby Jonny once again BECOMES an employee of the IRFU? You seem very sure Jonny will get to come back on his own terms. That’s not how the IRFU will view it. He will not be negotiating with the Leinster branch, you do realise?
I’m glad you appreciate there would be a negotiation and not just the IRFU dictating terms. Do you not think that where he plays will be part of said negotiations. Seriously!
So, the IRFU would bring Sexton home and put their three ranked 10s into two squads when their third frontline province has none?
They (wrongly) don’t seem to rate JJ and Keatley clearly is never going to progress beyond journeyman status.
Jonny to Munster is clearly the logical move, especially as the IRFU now have the whip hand in negotiation with a player who obviously regrets leaving these shores for the grinding workhouse of the French Top 14.
Agreed, sexton to Munster would work well given his Kerry connections. Would also benefit the national side by playing with murray week in week out. Hanrahan could replace dan parks in Connacht. Keatley could back up sexton or get first team rugby in England or France. Hopefully the IRFU will get it done. There must be a good bit extra in the kitty with Drico retiring.
@ john Agnew
That is the kind of clear thinking epitomised by Joe Schmidt and the IRFU these days. It would be a bitter pill for the D4 brigade to swallow but we have to think of what’s best for Irish rugby.
To be fair, in public a least Sexton has said he wants to see out his contract and stick with the ‘project’ that is Racing. Not sure where this speculation is coming from, but suspect it’s from Leinster. After all, they won’t be writing the cheque if this does happen and they have to think their chances of silverware are better with Sexton than without him.
It’s not like Leinster are exactly struggling without him. More likely this is coming from the IRFU with the World Cup fast approaching they likely want control of their top players but still would be surprised if this happened.
Sexton is overrated and can only kick consistently from one side.
Overrated really? So which out half in the northern hemisphere is better then?
Lol
Moron comment
Yeah, he’s so overrated that’s why he’s the highest paid player in Europe. The French did it for the crack.
He’s considered the best by the hype machine that is the Irish media. It doesn’t mean he really is though. The same media had us as favorites for the world cup in France….
Cant understand how people say madigan is 2nd choce irish outhalf he cant make leinster team nd just look at how good jackson is playing 4 ulster.
Joes assessment that he is overworked has been borne out by how his kicking has been affected. However because Jonny is as good as he is there is a tendency to be over reliant on him. This was borne out in the England game where the inaccuracies arguably cost the game. The was also the best example of how PJ could have been given more time to implement the game plan. If this Ireland team is to build on its success then Madigan and PJ need to be properly utilised to take the pressure off Jonny, added to this when the kicking game begins to creek there are no other kicking options along the back line.
And paddy
Was Johnny asked about those missed kicks. They were absolute shockers. And the conversion under posts was a real wobbler. I’m a big fan and he scored 2 great tries and without them we had no chance but those kicks and the AB miss were really worrying if it comes to big close games. Surprisingly not really been mentioned in any reports. Its as if we want to ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen.