World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton has signed an IRFU contract extension that will keep him with Leinster and Ireland until 2021.
The 33-year-old has been a cornerstone of Ireland’s incredible year that has seen them claim a Grand Slam, a series in Australia and down the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium.
Couple that with his Leinster form as they claimed a Guinness PRO14 and European Champions Cup double and it’s clear Sexton is playing the best rugby of his career.
And with the 2019 Guinness Six Nations around the corner, the fly-half is pleased to have committed his future to his homeland.
He said: “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 and it is an exciting time for Irish rugby.
“I am looking forward to hopefully being a part of that over the next few years”
Sexton made his Ireland debut against Fiji in November 2009 and has subsequently amassed 78 caps for his country, scoring 738 points.
A two-time British & Irish Lions tourist, Johnny featured in all six of the Lions’ most recent Test matches helping to achieve a series victory in Australia and a drawn series in New Zealand.
David Nucifora, IRFU Performance Director, commented, “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.”
