Who will follow Pied Piper Sexton?

Rob Kearney has revealed Jonathan Sexton was “upset” that a deal could not be done with the IRFU to keep him at Leinster next season and warned that the out-half’s move to France could pave a path that other Irish internationals will follow.

The Louth-born full-back knows Sexton well, having first played rugby with him at the age of 14, and he has had ample opportunity to speak to his provincial teammate and friend since news broke on Friday that the 10 would be swapping Dublin for Paris come midsummer.

“Jonny will tell you that he probably wanted to stay and it is unfortunate that whatever way the negotiations went on he probably wanted to agree and stay and play his rugby in Ireland, but you can’t always get what you want,” said Kearney.