Kidney not worried by Sexton exit talk

Speculation surrounding the future of Ireland fly-half Jonny Sexton will not distract the player nor the national team heading into the RBS 6 Nations, head coach Declan Kidney has promised.

Sexton, 27, has been linked with a move away from Leinster this summer, when his current IRFU contract expires, with reports in France linking the three-time Heineken Cup winner with a possible €750,000 per year contract, with a host of clubs interested, led by Racing Metro.

Ireland’s first-choice out-half is currently in negotiations with the IRFU regarding a new deal and while Kidney hopes that is successfully resolved, he said their would be no distractions in his camp as a result of the current rumour mill.

“Not really,” Kidney said. “There’s always going to be some story about something and I’d much prefer a story about contract negotiations than a plethora of (stories about) injuries.

“I think he’ll deal with it and the sooner for everybody that it can be brought to a conclusion, the better. Nobody likes their private life dragged out in public but at the same time I presume they need to take time to deliberate over it and then announce it.”

Speaking at the announcement of the Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations, Kidney reiterated his belief that Irish rugby needed its best players based in the four provinces, not at foreign clubs with the power to deny their release for Ireland training camps and friendlies.

“For players who are abroad, you don’t rule them out but your access to them is obviously curtailed,” Kidney said. “I see some of the Welsh lads who are playing abroad in France have got clearance to train with Wales next week, so they don’t seem to be too adversely affected but for our purposes, we want as many Irish players at home as possible.

“We’ve good Irish players playing abroad and sometimes they have to leave because the bottleneck is so tight, in terms of them getting game time, and we’ve had a few lads who’ve gone abroad and come back better for it. But overall, we want to keep as many of them at home as possible to keep the provinces as strong as possible.

“We don’t always have to go overseas to fill our provinces with good players.”

Kidney said he would give Sexton advice on his options but only “when he asks”.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt adopted a similar approach yesterday as he prepared the defending champions for a must-win Heineken Cup game at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Mindful of the fear that the loss of Sexton to an overseas club could induce a drip-drip loss of players along the same routes, Schmidt said: “I guess a lot of people would look at the Welsh situation and say a lot of their players have gone offshore and has that been the best thing for their national side.

“The IRFU are working really hard. I know they’ll do a good job. In the end, Jonny will make a decision.

“He’s been a massive part of Leinster in the last four years and we’d like him to be a massive part for the next four years as well.”

With the IRFU handling the contract negotiations, Schmidt can do little more than whisper sweet nothings in his out-half’s ear and hope he can call on his 10 when his last year in charge kicks off in September.