Leaving: Jonathan Sexton
Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton will leave Leinster at the end of the season, with Racing Métro his reported destination.
The in-form playmaker's future was confirmed on Friday in what is a shock move from the Irish international and probable B&I Lions starter.
"The Irish Rugby Football Union has been informed that Johnny Sexton will not be renewing his contract to remain playing full time in Ireland from the end of this season," said a statement from the IRFU.
"We are very disappointed, as we know the Irish rugby public will be, that Johnny Sexton will not be playing his rugby full time in Ireland from next season," said IRFU chief executive Phillip Browne.
"Johnny is a major talent and his full time presence in Ireland will be missed, particularly by Leinster.
"We wish Johnny continued success with his career and he will receive all the support he needs over the next number of weeks in what we know was a very difficult decision for him.
"While we remained in the fight right up until the last possible moment to keep Johnny in Ireland with a very strong offer, ultimately, following negotiations with the player's agent, we had no option but to take the decision that it would not be in the best interest of Irish rugby to chase the reported financial incentives being offered.
"The IRFU has made a commitment to, and been largely successful in, keeping as many Irish players as possible playing full time in Ireland. However, we have always recognised that some of our players will be targeted by overseas clubs with offers which, quite simply, are not within our orbit.
"While Johnny has made the decision to move on to a new club, the IRFU is fully committed, together with the provinces, to maintaining its programme of nurturing and retaining Irish rugby talent. We feel that the benefits of the careful and considered management of those players will allow us to maintain this policy."
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt added: "Naturally, I'm disappointed."
"I've really enjoyed Johnny's input over the last few years and he has added tremendous value to the Leinster environment both on and off the field. The offer he has received is exceptional, even by French standards, but I know that it was still a tough decision for him."
Comments
lawynd says...
@pierredelot1 - It's not as simple as not following a free market; where international representation is concerned there's the all-important question of access to players. With the Top 14 running for several weeks more than any of the other European national leagues and the steadfast refusal in the past of clubs to release players outside of the international windows it is far easier for the national teams to deal with players that they have direct control of, either by IRFU central contracts or the RFU's EPS agreement. Not only are the players covered by these schemes available for longer training camps outside of the international windows, but mandatory rests can also be scheduled into their year to prevent burnout. PSA himself bemoaned the Top 14 approach with regards securing players for France recently.
Posted 15:42 30th January 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Sexton is going because he's received an offer that will cement his future for life. All nations are losing players to France for the money, but don't blame the players for going, they might get critically injured tomorrow and never play again. Most of you would never opt for a career in an industry where today you are the star but tomorrow you may be crippled and gone forever. If the French clubs are willing to pay this money then let them go. Can't think for one minute Sexton won't continue to play his very best for Ireland, the guys got talent and we enjoy watching him. He is a businessman and th businees is Rugby not Ireland, I only hope he continues to improve and show how great a player he is. Ireland dropping him would be a typical narrow minded reaction to a free market. Don't follow the English and not pick just because he plays abroad. Pick the best players for the job
Posted 11:25 28th January 2013
melkdave says...
@Sincero
Some of your best posts ever on this thread,a mature outlook,and proper arguuements and explnations ect..For once you have shown you indeed know rugby,
Also lets not forget ,just what Racing are doing atm.look at the players they have recruited for next year.Sexton,Etezbeth,Roberts,Lyidgate,and i suspect a few others i cnt remember atm.They are building a very potent squad thats going to be capable of challanging the likes of Toulon,Clearmont,Tououse ect,for the T14 and HC.As ive pointed out many times ,its a profesional sport now,and fans these days demand success,and trophies ,As long as teams are wining fans are happy,and attendances keep growing,Franch teams have some of the most fanatical fans around and the clubs add pestige to the town ,city or even regionThe majority of fans dont care about rugby in Ireland or Wales ect .They want success in France and now in the HC.French teams have always had bigger budgets than clubs elsewhere,now they are using that muscle to delvier success for their fans ,and more pestige for the town ,city or region,Which french clubs take very seriously .I expect in a year or so ,we will se the cap in England eased to £6-7 million,as attendances and income is also rising for AP teams ,The thing to remember is eventually it will impact on the national team,yes they wil still have star players ect,but they will lack depth in quality in key/ vital positions ,we can see that atm at 10,,It will spread to other positions eventually ,just look at the English and scottish football teams .So its a two edged sword in the long run ,for French teams .England recognised this could happen hence the 75-80 % of players must qulify for England of any 1st team squad.France will bring in a similar rule eventually,as french supporters wont stand back and watch the national team fail for long.May take 3-5 years though
Posted 15:32 27th January 2013
MunsterRedArmy says...
Oh god why do you always have to make it Munster vs Leinster? 2 completely different teams who both happen to have great rugby fans and those ''bitchy football'' fans. Do not be the latter! Things like this happen on a daily basis and what not just Leinster fans but all Irish fans need to worry about is exactly what mcdb06 mentioned before. Munster lost half the damn team in last 2 seasons (Flannery, D. Wallace, Quinlan, Leamy, Hayes,...) and we could not replace them all.
Posted 13:04 27th January 2013
NHsaints says...
Judging by the IRFU's statement Sexton has been offered something probably in the region of what Wilkinson first got when he jumped the channel...it will be interesting how that works out for him personally but it's actually good for Ireland because they'll be forced to (Leinster especially) develop some more depth at 10 to fill his shoes.
Posted 12:28 27th January 2013
THESKUTCH says...
Is nobody going to lay the blame on Cabbage Eater Kidney here?? Sexton's been the form 10 in Europe for the guts of 5 years yet was still never given the freedom of the Irish number 10 shirt that he deserved. With a backline like that O'Gara is a waste and it's perhaps time to look and think maybe if Kidney and his biased towards Munster players had copped on this would never have happened. And not just at 10. Second row too. Why is Donncha still in there? There's at least 3 other second rows better than him in the country. And Earls is not a 13. No matter what happens. A good wing, Not a 13 though. Kidney OUT
Posted 11:33 27th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
I hear Toulon are thinking about buying Racing...
Posted 11:31 27th January 2013
norm says...
Yep 3 in 4. Highest scoring Irishman ever, that flukey drop goal that won the grand slam. He is a disgrace to Irish rugby that o'gara fella. Him and his dedication to his province. If there was anything to him at all he would have taken the french money he was offered or even the contract with Miami dolphins! He'll never be half the man sexton is. Wouldn't have the wit to sell out like sexyboy did!
Seriously off to the corner and have a chat to yourself.sexton sells you out and it is still munsters fault! Cop on idiot
Posted 10:51 27th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
I'm going to get blasted for this. It's a myth that its a short career. Name one England player in the 2003 squad not making good money from the rugby industry today other than MJ who seems to have gone AWOL and anyhow made good money as coach. Some by choice have started careers elsewhere like Robinson, and some fundraise between pitch side payments but they're all doing fine financially.
So you can be loyal and have a good long rugby career. Instead Sexton has dumped his clubs potential long term future in it for a short term cash hit. He should feel terrible. The true greats like McCaw and BOD would not have done that even if they say they totally understand Sextons tough decision.
Posted 10:23 27th January 2013
Qkram79 says...
@3in4: what you said makes zero sense.
Posted 09:57 27th January 2013
3in4 says...
@black47 By your logic, ROG must have had only one good game in twenty, seeing as Ireland only won one Grand Slam in the many years he had the 10 shirt all to himself.
Posted 21:39 26th January 2013
KubilaKhan says...
TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 19:47 26th January 2013
black47 says...
Whatever about his performances for Leinster, he has one good game in five for Ireland.
He can be done without if it comes to it. Time for Madigan and Paddy Jackson to step up to the plate for their country
Posted 19:12 26th January 2013
curates_egg says...
@froggy73 - all depends on what rating you use. Leinster will remain the number 1 ranked side in the Heineken Cup next year - even if they lose every game for the rest of the season.
Clermont and Toulon are clearly looking like the two best this season - and its pretty clear both Toulouse and Leinster could justifiably feel they are better than other quarter finalists - however the point is valid: Leinster is still an elite European club - Racing is not...and if it fails to qualify for the Heineken Cup this year, will remain a middle of the road club.
Posted 17:42 26th January 2013
shrimps says...
@ RugbyNut
surely you must have a better point to make than that? sexton has showed his dedication and heart in every tackle he makes. look at the guy, 6'2 and not a particularly big man holding up the biggest forwards in rugby. as many people have discussed, the money in rugby is not that great. sexton is one of the best in the world in general, let alone in the most pivotal position in rugby. every individual, sportsman or otherwise, does what they can do care for themselves and there future. even if you were attempting to irritate irish / leinster fans rather than make a genuine point, your attempt was 1 dimensional and easy to break down. you are an idiot of one sort, regardless. good day to you sir.
Posted 17:26 26th January 2013
lorenz78 says...
How strict is the IRFU about foreign-based players being selected for the national team? Could Sexton be picked anyway, would he have less of a priority..?
Posted 13:28 26th January 2013
BODsGODmisspelt says...
new_j4a
We drink heino in Leinster not cider, that would be Munster
Posted 12:00 26th January 2013
RugbyNut says...
So much for being a Leinster man through and through. Seems the more a Northern Hemisphere player spouts about national pride the more they are prepared to cut and run for the French coin!
Posted 11:57 26th January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
really not sure how I feel about this - on the one hand, this is a competetive business environment and clubs should be allowed to spend what they will (may contradict my attitude to Saracens at the moment, but that is more about whether they are operating within the rules or not).
However, the clubs that are spending like its going out of fashion cannot afford this money, what happens when their benefactors die, hit their own financial buffers or simply lose interest in their plaything? Stade Francais are a classic example of a club who had to offload a load of playing staff when the pursestrings got a little tight and we all saw what nearly happened to Wasps when the owner suddenly found himself in difficulty.
The reality is that these clubs cannot sustain the quality of playing staff without spending huge amounts of money - when the well dries up where will the back up come from? where is the investment in development and youth I wonder?
The IRFU will need to make their stance clear over Sexton, I think that it would be a shame for this to become an International hiatus for him but, he is still young and if they ignore it, there is a danger that they will be selecting from mainly overseas based players within 5 years.
Posted 11:48 26th January 2013
irish_rosbif says...
There's isn't much fanf
are in the French rugby press. MO had nothing and Equipe ran a small article.
Don't know if it is common knowledge on this blog but Racing cannot declare Sexton let alone anyone else before April. Neither can any other French club.
So to start/add to the theories abounding out there, Sexton could be going anywhere. Its strange to think that the Racing owners might have actually said so when saying there was little chance he going there as he might be going to Toulon or whrreever. Musings
Posted 10:45 26th January 2013