Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton could potentially play on with Leinster next season, just six weeks after indicating he was retiring from rugby union.
Get your tickets to the Rugby World Cup matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Find out how by clicking here.
Sexton was planning to quit following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which gets under way on September 8 with Ireland’s opening group game against Romania taking place a day later on September 9.
The playmaker suffered the issue during his country’s 29-16 Six Nations Grand Slam triumph over England in March.
It was confirmed afterwards that he would require surgery and would ‘likely’ miss the rest of the season.
The pivot is targeting a mid-June return which is when the Irish squad assemble to begin their preparations for the World Cup in France.
“We come back on June 19, so that’s my goal, to be back fully with the squad, get rid of the physios and just have pre-season with the rest of them,” he told the Irish Independent.
“I spoke to Josh (van der Flier) at the time of the injury, about how long it took to get back because he was the one guy who’d a similar injury. He got back in like record time, in nine or 10 weeks and so I was like, ‘Here we go, maybe the URC final if we got there’.
“But no, the surgeon says age matters, apparently, and the fact that I’m a kicker as well so I need to sort of special attention to the load that I’m put through and how I build up gradually t
RUCK sources suggest that Sexton isn’t ready to quit just yet, and is very tempted to have one last crack at silverware with Leinster after the Irish province fell short domestically and in Europe.
PLANS FOR AFTER RUGBY:
“I’ll go and see if I can do something in the business world, I’ve been doing a bit of work experience there over the last few years, one day a week, so I’ll go into that and see how it goes.
“It might not be for me. I might get the itch straight away and come out of retirement, play for St Marys!”
The previous year saw a significant rise in accumulated profits at the management company owned by Johnny Sexton, the renowned rugby captain of Ireland.
The profits surged by nearly £307,000, reaching an impressive total of almost £2.5m.
6 rugby players now making it big in business after smart investments
Here’s some of the most prominent rugby players to have made waves in business.
Stuart Hogg
After confirming his retirement, Hogg said in a statement: “A new career beckons and I will attack in the same manner as I play the game.”
The Scotland legend has revealed he isn’t too keen on coaching, but will remain in the game as a pundit after making his debut on BBC during the 2023 Six Nations.
PUNDITRY:
Sources tell RUCK that BT Sport (soon to be TNT Sports) are keen. to recruit the fullback as a key part of their 2023/24 Premiership coverage.
RESTAURANT OWNER:
He is the co-owner of steak house Finsbay Flatiron in Glasgow.
The focus for Finsbay Flatiron is steak, specialising in 8oz flat irons (as the name suggests) and steaks from £8 on weekdays and £10 on weekends, as well as sides like mac and cheese and triple cooked chips.
DISTILLERY:
He’s a director of a distillery named Maiden Batch.
Caulker’s is a collaborative effort between five Glasgow men, two of whom happen to be British Lions and Scotland rugby internationals, Hogg and Alastair Kellock. The bottle is signed by all five.
Jack Nowell
The England and Exeter Chiefs winger is the co-owner of The Swordfish Inn back in his hometown of Cornwall.
Sitting on the harbourfront, the pub has been a favourite of local fishermen, artists and visitors alike for as long as anyone cares to remember and is well-known for its rugged charm and atmosphere.
He is also a director of MUSTARD Clothing.
