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The long-term hope that Leinster have for the retired Johnny Sexton
Leinster boss Leo Cullen has outlined his hope that the recently retired Johnny Sexton won’t be lost to the game. Having played for his province for the final time earlier in 2023, the 38-year-old Ireland skipper lined out in his last-ever match last month in his country’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand in Paris.
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Sexton was a guest of Leinster on Saturday night at their near sold-out URC derby versus Munster at the Aviva Stadium and writing in his programme notes ahead of the match, head coach Cullen paid tribute to his former teammate and star player.
“It is amazing to have the great Johnny Sexton and his family with us this evening,” Cullen began. “What a man and what a career.
“It is hard to put into words the positive influence that Johnny has had on both Leinster and Ireland over the years. He has an inner drive that is incredibly rare and I have been lucky enough to have seen it up close, both as a teammate and coach for more than 15 years.
“We will miss Johnny greatly but we wish him only the very best for the future. The group have shared so many amazing memories along the way and we all hope that he and his family can look back with pride on their incredible journey together. In the meantime, I’m sure Laura, Luca, Sophie and Amy will be keeping him busy.
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One of the greatest servants to Irish Rugby will be on the pitch before kick off this evening.
Get into your seats early to say thanks to Johnny Sexton, a Leinster Rugby legend. ?#ThankYouJohnny #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/8OXAaI4kUw
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) November 25, 2023
“Nobody knows what the future holds but I think we all hope that Johnny might have some role in the game as he has been such a brilliant rugby mind to go with that competitive gene. For now though, enjoy retirement. You deserve it.”
Cullen also paid tribute to the late Anthony Foley, the former Munster and Ireland No8 who passed away in 2016 in Paris when working with his province as their assistant coach. “Playing this fixture at the Aviva will always remind me of Anthony Foley.
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“We will never forget Axel or the contribution he made to Irish rugby, and our thoughts are regular with him and his family. We had so many great tussles over the years and we hope for lots more between two passionate teams and sets of supporters who have given so much to the game.”
- Click here for all the RugbyPass stats from the Leinster vs Munster match
Comments on RugbyPass
GOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
152 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
152 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
152 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
152 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
152 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
152 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
152 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
152 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
152 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
152 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
152 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
152 Go to commentsHo hum.
152 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
152 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
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