In a recent interview, former Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton, renowned for his illustrious rugby career, disclosed insights into his playing days and transition to a new profession.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Sexton, who boasts a remarkable 118 appearances for his country and a record-breaking 1,108 points, reminisced about his toughest opponents and notable teammates, shedding light on his personal and professional journey.
Reflecting on his formidable adversaries, Sexton singled out rugby icons Richie McCaw and Paul O’Connell as his most challenging opponents. He lauded their relentless determination, acknowledging the difficulty of overcoming their formidable presence on the field.
Sexton remarked, “Richie McCaw or Paul O’Connell. Just hard and relentless. Hard to be on a winning team against them.”
Conversely, when asked about his most esteemed teammates, Sexton praised the contributions of Paul O’Connell, Felipe Contepomi, and Brian O’Driscoll, citing their individual brilliance and camaraderie.
He added, “Paul O’Connell, Felipe Contepomi and Brian O’Driscoll. All great for different reasons.”
During the engaging Q&A session, Sexton also shared glimpses into his rugby upbringing, citing Stephen Larkham and Jonny Wilkinson as childhood heroes, with Contepomi later earning his admiration in his professional career.
He revealed, “Stephen Larkham, Jonny Wilkinson and in much later years Felipe Contepomi.”
Following his retirement from the sport, Sexton has embarked on a new chapter in his life, leveraging his Bachelor of Commerce degree earned from University College Dublin in 2012.
Embracing his transition from the rugby pitch to the corporate world, Sexton now serves as a commercial manager for a prominent glass and metal company, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability beyond the realm of sports.
2025 Six Nations fixtures confirmed with England handed toughest possible start
England will kick off their 2025 Guinness Six Nations campaign with an away match at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland.
As per this year, the 2025 Championship will see BBC and ITV sharing coverage in the UK, with S4C offering Welsh language options. France Television will be the home of the Championship for French fans, RTE and Virgin Media will once again cover the games in Ireland. In Italy, Sky Italia will continue their coverage of the Championship in 2025. The host broadcast coverage will also be complemented by widespread international broadcast coverage and a World Feed service.
Commenting on the 2025 Guinness Six Nations fixtures, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said:
“The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is an appointment to view each year, delivering blockbuster entertainment for fans all over the world. The Championship never fails to deliver unpredictable excitement and experiences for fans to look forward to and then savour.
“The announcement of the next instalment of fixtures is always keenly anticipated by fans, and with tickets now available for the 2025 fixtures, coupled with extensive broadcast coverage of the games, fans can already begin looking forward to what is in store as the action for the remaining rounds of this year’s Championship plays out.”
2025 Siz Nations Fixtures
ROUND 1
- Friday 31 January
- France vs Wales – 8.15pm
- Saturday 1 February
- Scotland vs Italy – 2.15pm
- Ireland vs England – 4.45pm
ROUND 2
- Saturday 8 February
- Italy vs Wales – 2.15pm
- England vs France – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 February
- Scotland vs Ireland – 3pm