MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 02:23:02| >> :600:6780023:6780023:

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton signs contract extension with IRFU

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton signs contract extension with IRFU
© Reuters
The 33-year-old has enjoyed a stellar 2018.

Leinster and Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has signed a contract extension with the Irish Rugby Football Union until the end of the 2020-21 season.

The 33-year-old has enjoyed a stellar 2018 and was crowned World Rugby Player of the Year.

Sexton helped Leinster to a European Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 double, after steering Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam.

Ireland also beat reigning world champions New Zealand on home soil for the first time last month and will be expected to challenge the All Blacks for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Sexton spent two years in Paris with Racing Metro from 2013 to 2015, but now appears likely to see out his playing days in Dublin.

Sexton said on irishrugby.ie: “I am delighted to sign a new IRFU contract to continue to play for Leinster and Ireland.

“It is where I have always wanted to play so I am delighted to extend. We get looked after extremely well here.

“It is an exciting time for Irish rugby. I am looking forward to hopefully being a part of that over the next few years.”

Johnny Sexton has been a pivotal figure for Leinster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions
Johnny Sexton has been a pivotal figure for Leinster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions (David Davies/PA)

Sexton made his Leinster debut in 2006 and his Ireland debut in November 2009.

He has since won 78 caps, scoring 738 points, and has twice toured with the British and Irish Lions, playing all three Tests in the 2013 series win in Australia and again in the drawn series with New Zealand four years later.

He returned from Paris to Leinster in 2015 on a four-year contract which was due to expire after next year’s World Cup.

Joe Schmidt will leave his role as Ireland head coach following the tournament in Japan, but now his successor, current defence coach Andy Farrell, has continuity with Sexton.

Johnny Sexton led Leinster to European Champions Cup glory earlier this year
Johnny Sexton led Leinster to European Champions Cup glory earlier this year (Adam Davy/PA)

On Sexton, IRFU performance director David Nucifora said: “Johnny’s hunger and drive mark him out as a truly world class competitor.

“He sets a performance benchmark for those around him and is investing in the development of young out-halves in the Ireland squad while also seeking improvement in his own performance.

“He is a model professional and has been at the centre of a lot of the success enjoyed by Irish Rugby over the past few years.”

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'ae2025fa-e339-44f0-b025-5c719dd6415b');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:rugby-union');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton signs contract extension with IRFU'});

ID:343933: cacheID:343933:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8015:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Read more about Leinster Rugby Union
rhs 2.0
Today's games header

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!