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Johnny Sexton to make dramatic return to Ireland set-up?

Former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton in the stands in Dublin before the Guinness Six Nations match last February versus Wales (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Johnny Sexton has being linked with a return to rugby as the new Ireland skills and kicking coach, a move that would be his first coaching job in the game.

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Sexton called time on an illustrious playing career after Ireland were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in October 2023 and was soon linked with a job within the Irish set-up when attack coach Mike Catt said that he was leaving.

Then IRFU high-performance director David Nucifora said: “He has got to decide what floats his boat over the next period of time, but if he ever chose to come back into coaching, the Irish system would be mad to say no to him.”

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Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell review Ireland’s win over South Africa

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Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell review Ireland’s win over South Africa

The Leinster, Ireland and Bristish and Irish Lions legend, who clocked up over 1,100 points in Test rugby, opted for a career outside the sport as commercial manager for a multi-billion pound glass and metal company, Ardagh Group.

Ireland will have a new-look coaching set-up after Catt left in the summer to join the NSW Waratahs as an assistant coach. The 39-year-old Sexton was linked with being Catt’s replacement until Andrew Goodman stepped in to replace him for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series on a contract that runs to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

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Simon Easterby will become Ireland interim head coach for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations and summer tour when Andy Farrell takes a sabbatical in December to prepare to take charge of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next summer.

Decorated Leinster legend Sexton could now decide that the time is right to take his first steps in coaching. Even on a part-time basis, it would be a hugely popular move with Ireland fans while he continues to work on his interests outside of rugby.

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Comments

11 Comments
F
Forward pass 140 days ago

Surely he is too close to the current players to be an effective coach at this point. Give him 5 years to learn how to coach at a lower level.

E
Ed the Duck 140 days ago

Perfect as referee liaison officer, such a role model example in every respect for this role…🤣🤣🤣

T
Terry24 140 days ago

This is great news. Sexton has a massive amount of rugby IQ most of specific to the current Irish team. I am sure he will be able to take the step up from planning and devising attacks with himself as outhalf versus with others.

He also brings the passion and the experience of winning and losing. He will know the lessons from 2023 and be able to make sure they are learnt. I am talking about making sure we have adequate coaching resources for the task in hand. He will also demand the best for Ireland which is something we are lacking. SA and NZ demand the best behind the scenes for their countries while Ireland seem to be passive passengers in World Rugby decisions that hurt us. His outspokenness and strenght of character are major pluses.

H
HU 140 days ago

not sure foul language makes a good coach .... maybe in the old days it did, but we are 2024 .....

T
Terry24 140 days ago

Erasmus curses a lot?

Also, coaching doesn't occur in the heat of battle.

Knowing and conducting the Irish attack for 20 years is the major qualifier here.

J
JK 140 days ago

Whiner in chief ? King of quarterfinals?

T
Terry24 140 days ago

Youre really saying that after PSDT whining to the ref at full time in Durban trying to cheat Ireland out of the win?

T
Teddy 140 days ago

Ah, lad!!!


You missed the Lions series in Oz and NZ, the IRE series wins in Oz and NZ?


The multiple European trophies? The multiple 6N titles and Grand slams? The 1100+ test PTS?


The world player of the year award while approaching his mid 30's?


Stay salty ya' langer.

B
Bull Shark 140 days ago

O God

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JW 1 hour ago
France player ratings vs England | 2025 Six Nations

Sorry my delivery on that joke was a bit bland. But to reply to the couple of good points you make, to me it just seemed like they had no plan with why Gatland was staying on. I mean the plan seemed to be “just get us a win against Italy and we can continue on as we are”, which is just terrible if that’s what Gatland was trying to achieve for Wales imo.


Did it just happen to be Italy that he saw his team weren’t able to achieve his vision of success? I mean Italy are a very good side so its by no means a lost cause to not look like world beaters. Sure his focus should have been on more transient factors like growth and style for a full rebuild, not trying to avoid the wooden spoon.


Which brings me to you main point, that would be exactly what the benefit of dropping down a tier would be. A chance to really implement something, get good at it, then take it up a level again once you’re ready. Even for Italy it must have been an incredibly brutal environment to have been trying to develop as a side.


Not saying of course that the other EU teams would be any better, but it might be better for everyone if say ‘years of tough losses’ are shared between countries, rather than see Wales go through this journey two, three, possible four years in a row. Of course the main reason they don’t want to miss just one 6N season is because it would probably tank the game in their country missing out on all that revenue. I have always said they should look at widening the revenue share, there are plenty of competitions that have systems to keep bottom teams competitive, and the 6N would only make more money if it was a tierd competition with prom/rel.

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