LAST UPDATE | 8 Mar 2022
IRELAND CAPTAIN JOHNNY Sexton has confirmed his intention to retire from all rugby following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Earlier today the IRFU announced that the out-half has signed a new central contract which will see him through to the end of next year’s tournament in France.
And speaking this afternoon, Sexton confirmed that the World Cup will represent the final chapter in his playing career.
“Yeah, finished, 2023 World Cup. I’m delighted to be able to say it. I’ve been beating around the bush for six months, always nervous talking about the World Cup when you weren’t guaranteed to be there, but I just want to make the most of this last 18 months of my career, and go out on the top,” Sexton said.
“It’s up to me now to work hard and get the body and mind in the best shape possible, and attack the last 18 months.”
Sexton, who has been capped 103 times at Test level, has enjoyed another strong year with both Leinster and Ireland, with news of his new deal widely expected for some time.
“Very, very happy obviously,” he continued.
“It was always my intention to try and stay at the top of my game to get myself to a World Cup and I’m very thankful and grateful that I’ve been afforded that opportunity to do it. Now it’s up to me to keep the body in good shape.
I’m still very driven to get there and perform at the World Cup. That was one of the biggest factors for me. I spoke to a lot of guys who have finished in the game with big regrets over World Cup and I have a chance now to do that.
“It’s obviously a long time away and at this moment we’ve got a lot in front of us to focus on but it’s great to get it sorted.
“There were initial talks a few months ago about whether I had the desire to keep going and I said that at the moment I do. But again, it was never going to be done until this stage of the season, because you just don’t know. Again, if you picked up an injury or it puts the majority of next season in doubt…
“You’ve got to wait I suppose, at this age. It’s a lot different to if you were in your 20s or whatever. But look, it was fine. Like I said, we sat down last week and sorted it out in a couple of conversations. It’s the balance, isn’t it, between making sure you’re looked after but also acknowledging that you’re 36 and there’s risk that goes with that.
“But at the same time, all you can do is go on what’s in front of you. I hope to keep proving my worth and that’s all I can say really. I’m just delighted to keep the dream going, as they say.”
Sexton will be 38 by the time the 2023 World Cup rolls around, but added that he is confident of his body holding up over the next 18 months.
“You’re always looking for different things and you dabble in different things. You go through good patches and think, ‘okay, that’s down to this’ and you keep that. Then you come unstuck and you have to find something else. Lots of different one per-centers whether in your diet or your recovery.
“I’ve said it previously, I’ve played with a lot of guys that went out at the top of their game. People that have won a World Cup, like Richie McCaw and Brad Thorn. I played with Brad and took a lot from him. Closer to home then, Rory Best, Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll. All these guys played to a similar age so you take bits from all of them: Peter Stringer, Donnacha O’Callaghan. It’s a long list so it’s not like I’m the first person ever to do it.
“I am just very hungry to stay in the international setup. I don’t want to go out with a whimper, I want to go out at the top. So, whatever it is, 18 more months to make the most of a career. Yeah, hopefully we can finish on a high.”
Comedian Michael Fry is our special guest on this week’s episode of The Front Row, in partnership with Guinness. Joining host Seán Burke, Eimear Considine and Murray Kinsella, he chats about his family’s rugby background and his short-lived playing days, before using his musical ear to rank the anthems of each Guinness Six Nations team. Click here to subscribe or listen below:
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This stinks of “Jobs for the Boys” to b honest. Has Micko done much at underage/schools/club level (genuine question)?
Denis.List’s his experience right there in the article. Leinster have made a similar appointment with Cullen next season
And Cullen will be working with the Senior squad, Micko is looking after the A side.
Micko hopefully can pass on his great technical knowledge especially lineout work. As you say thou the back’s coach appointment is the crucial one
With POC still in situ ,it’s really hard to see what MOD could possibly bring after a stint coaching at schools level. This smacks of a very Munster job for one of the boys
Not a fan of players that r just retired nd then fall in coaching same players….can cloud decisions., for example is mick goin to recommend a player that he was great friends with to be dropped if his form is poor….???
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
Yea retired two years but not too many guys he wouldnt have trained or played with.It could be a great appointment but personally I wouldnt agree.
The impressive Rob Penney was shafted by the Munster Rugby board in order to make way for their good old boy, Anthony Foley, to become head coach; who in turn is intent on employing his good old boys instead of seeking the direct input of those with an enlightened, outside perspective. Group-think will now prevail.
Munster will be the big loser because Foley won’t have the same progressive-minded outlook and plan that Penney has. Munster will regress into their shell under Anthony Foley, and the slack will be compensated for by utter blarney from Foley and the media.
As a Leinster fan I hope your wrong.
If insider knowledge points to foley knowing something that mod can bring then there’s nothing wrong with appointing the right man for the job. If he’s giving his old pal a leg up it will fall apart along with his own career.
I don’t believe Anthony foley wants to throw away his carreer to give his mate a job.
Penney wasnt shafted.
Micko is looking after the a’s. Not first team. Might have little to do with the seniors.
Must be a pisser for Penny to see next years coaching ticket been lined up , could this be announced by Munster after Pennys gone ..
They let the cat out of the bag early enough this year bout him moving. Why should nexus years coaching ticket be any different? I’m sure he doesn’t hold a grudge.
Hope I’m wrong but has a ” jobs for the boys” ring to it
Micko being linked to the A squad hints fairly strongly that Ian costello could be the backs coach for the seniors.
this time last year there was howls about the fact that not one province had a native head-coach, now there’s howls when a native is appointed head coach & opts to select another native to be part of his coaching team?
Micko was known as a top-notch lineout analyst in his playing days, he had a very large part to play in the strength of the munster lineout in the past as he analysed the opposition lineouts & ran those patterns in training.