Ireland and Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton has been linked with a move to Racing Métro, according to reports in France.
Sexton has allegedly met twice with millionaire Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti, whilst Midi Olympique claim a deal could be concluded before the start of the Six Nations.
The 27-year-old's current deal with Leinster expires in June and having won three Heineken Cup titles in the last four years with the Irish side, Sexton is likely to receive plenty of interest from other clubs over the coming months.
One of the frontrunners for the Lions fly-half shirt for their upcoming tour of Australia, a shaky performance from Juan Martin Hernandez in Racing's loss to Saracens in the Heineken Cup underlined the French side's need for a more clinical edge, with Sexton certainly fitting the bill.
Racing have already signed up Juandre Kruger, Marc Andreu and Brian Mujati ahead of next season with Soane Tonga'uiha, Jamie Roberts, Dan Lydiate and more linked with the club.
Comments
APV1 says...
@ turboboy - certainly for English players this is not a good option if they have international ambitions. It is possible to have a "sabatical", as has been proven by Haskell, but it's rare.
Posted 16:10 16th January 2013
turboboy says...
I'm surprised not more northern hemisphere players looking to develop their games don't come to the southern hemisphere. He could become a player to change Irish fortunes at the World Cup if he develops his game beyond what Leinster/Ireland offer in terms of style and opposition.
Posted 00:06 16th January 2013
damo says...
Carter, Cruden, Barrett, Anscombe, Goosen, Steyn, Piennar, Cooper, Hook, Farrell, Hodgson, Hernandez, Keatley, Madigan are all pretty close to $exton, my preference here is IRFU start doing their job and calling this lads bluff, Madigan replaces him in Leinster and they save themselves hundreds of thousands, $exy is an unproven leader of the Irish team my thoughts are send Heaslip over with him and play Jordi/Rudduck at 8 instead Madigan 10 and Leinster is a better place with young talent replacing money grabbing!!!
Posted 22:42 15th January 2013
shrimps says...
@caramba13
hernandez is at his peak no longer but played a major part in getting with his incredible play. a world great no doubt. i havent seen enough of him recently to give a good opinion on his current state though
Posted 22:00 15th January 2013
damo says...
whatisthis:
"For me 1. Carter, 2. Sexton, 3. Cruden, 4. Michalak, 5. Goosen, 6. Evans, 7. Barrett, 8. Lambie, 9. Farrell, 10. Wilkinson "
What an absolute joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!
$exton is no more top 5 in the world than Jamie easlip is top 5 number 8's in Ireland hahaha
Send him off to Racing stop "top" players pretending to go to France and begin playing players who are hungry and happy to be there, Madigan must be near top try scorer in Leinster this season let him shine while Johnny gets a tan in Paris warming the bench watching El Magio play at 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heaslip was going to France once if only he was left take that trip Ireland would be a far better team without posers afraid of a tackle more interested in their hair do!
Posted 20:49 15th January 2013
carpelone says...
froggy73
You losers to Tonga. Usshhh
Posted 20:19 15th January 2013
APV1 says...
You're all forgetting the resident Bath wizard - World Cup Winner,
STEPHEN DONALD!
Carter didn't even play in the RWC final, as he was a little poorly, bless him. Sexton got no-where near the final and most of the others weren't either. Cruden is the only other 10 who played in the RWC final, who's been mentioned, so I'll accept him in 3rd behind DC and Beaver.
But not Sexton.
Posted 16:36 15th January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Is one shaky performance from Fernandez enough to see him lose his job? I would question joining an organization who treats their players in such a fashion. Also the Irish players are fiercely loyal. POC never left Muster and BOD certainly could've earned more money in France. Hard to imagine Sexton walking away from a known entity, especially with regular silverware coming his way as it has been.
Posted 15:54 15th January 2013
caramba13 says...
Hernandez is not that bad: he ran rings around Saracens in the first half. He's up there among the best ... which is why this story has no foundation to it and Sexton is merely looking to better his Leinster contract.
Posted 14:55 15th January 2013
froggy73 says...
@leinster_goy: "As for France, their metamorphosis into the english football premiereship is complete. Which also means their national team is well and truely b0ll0cked, which is fine by me :)"...
well, unlike Ireland we have 14 clubs to feed so there is space for everyone (2 n10 per club makes space for 28 !)
As for France national team being already bollocked, I did not see it in November. I feel they might be stronger than ever at the moment. 6N will tell we France stands and where Ireland stands.
Posted 14:31 15th January 2013
heathy says...
These comments have made me laugh as there is clearly bias towards SH players from SH scribers and NH players from NH scribers. I can understand that. However, there is also a thing called rugby knowledge and with 'knowing what you are talking about' allows an objective view. I think we all agree that Carter is the world¿s best FH. Not only has he got all the skills but he has been there, seen it, won it and is consistent. Now, there are also other potentially good FH's in the likes of Cruden, Barrett, Anscombe, Goosen etc but these are young and, in comparison, inexperienced and are not 'shoe-ins' for their national side. Sexton DOES have all the skills, IS consistent and DOES have 34 caps and counting to his name. He is an extremely talented player. He IS a shoe-in to the national side and has been for a while. ANYBODY that has knowledge of ALL rugby (and not just outside their 'back door') will know that Sexton is up there with the best of them and aside from Carter, is arguably (at present) one of the contenders for second spot in the FH rankings. International stats will tell a story and what he has achieved over a long period of time will confirm this. Sexton will therefore (at present) be above all those mentioned, bar Carter - end of. That is why top clubs will pay top dollar for him. Whether he goes or not will be another question.
Posted 14:18 15th January 2013
makemehappy says...
@whatisthis - generally very little, but Goosen appears a class act to me.
@TVaddict - a perfectly reasonable stance. I've seen two play sufficiently at all levels to have formed my opinion about their ability. Goosen is less proven, but class is clear. How much isn't, but I like what I see. Sexton has played with a very good Leinster team for many years, and has played well. He doesn't generally excite me as much as the others though.
Posted 13:14 15th January 2013
Tvaddict says...
@ yuri29
Well for starters Michalak mostly plays 9 for Toulon. Secondly he's only looked like a star when behind a completely dominant pack. Thirdly, he only has his Autumn performances that were particularly good. Let us see how he performs this year before we judge him.
@ makemehappy
Fair enough, we can all have our opinions. For me the names you've mentioned have only proven themselves at club level, which Sexton has done for years. If I had to chose a flyhalf to come of the bench and perform in a world cup final, as Carter was inevitably injured during the game, then I would want Sexton. I wouldn't want fresh faced talent which is unproven and inexperienced at international level.
Posted 11:57 15th January 2013
whatisthis says...
the performance of any 10 is dependant on the performance of their pack and 9. while at leinster sexton looks like one of the best in the world while in green he looks much less so. this is because at club level the leinster pack is as good as any bar maybe a few of the french teams(Like Clermont).
Therefore to discount sexton as not being one of the top 3 is disingenuous. @ makemehappy what has any SA Fly half done in the last 5 years with pretty much an armchair ride in every game played??? Carter miles ahead of anyone and its between Sexton and Cruden for number 2 spot with cruden shining with a dominant pack at super and national level...Michalak has only burried his flaky demons in the last 3 years. so sexton still has to reach that prime form age of between 27 & 30.
For me 1. Carter, 2. Sexton, 3. Cruden, 4. Michalak, 5. Goosen, 6. Evans, 7. Barrett, 8. Lambie, 9. Farrell, 10. Wilkinson
The english boys at the end for sheer will, determination and defence...
That's my two cents:)
Posted 11:26 15th January 2013
damo says...
Leinster players are doing themselves any favours trying to speculate about French clubs before getting a few quid extra in thep ay packet and Leinster are sliding for this reason, BOD/Healy both did it and more to my point Heaslip - this lad hasn't played well since, actually he is playing for the past couple of years as a man afraid of getting hurt which is embarassing, I wish he was playing in France as he wouldn't get away with his cowardly play over there without getting a clout, O'Leary did it in Munster and he was thanked for his efforts and sent on his merry way, Please Leinster let him go to Racing if they actually want him considering they have Hernandez/Barkley/Wazineki (not sure how its spelled) all fighting for their number 10 he would be lucky to play every second game, he can still play for Ireland and Madigan now gets the game time in top class rugby he has undoubtedly deserved!!!!
Posted 11:07 15th January 2013
yuri29 says...
"@leinster_goy
Although I wouldn't agree that Sexton is close to Carter I do agree that Sexton is the second best fly-half in the world at the moment."
Michalak is better than Sexton.
Have you seen how he has performed this season with both France and Toulon (when he played at FH)??
Clearly a class above Sexton and really not far from Carter who has been very poor against England.
Posted 01:09 15th January 2013
Mr_Right says...
Look, people saying he's not one of the best fly halfs in the world clearly dont watch much rugby. He kicks well scores tries is an excellent defender and excellent leader. He has played a key part in Leinsters 3 heineken cups including 2 tries in the 2011 final and is very likely to be the lions out half.
Carter is by a mile the best fly half in the world and Nick Evans is outstanding. Wilkinson was one of the best and Steyn on his day is an accurate kicker but that's all he can do.
Posted 21:32 14th January 2013
carpelone says...
I do not buy this, I think that his commitment to Leinster and Ireland is clear to see.
Only a move for a pay-rise.
Posted 21:26 14th January 2013
3in4 says...
@sbobrfc
Ah, bless. A Munster fan who still believes O'Gara is better than Sexton.
Posted 18:06 14th January 2013
sbobrfc says...
One of the best 10's in the world? he's not even the best 10 in Ireland! this is obviously a sly way to up his money - a three year extension, then he'll move to France.
Posted 17:33 14th January 2013