Heaslip urges Jonny to resist urge to leave

Jamie Heaslip is desperate for Jonny Sexton to stay at Leinster despite admitting he himself has looked into the possibility of leaving the province and playing in Japan.

The future of Ireland and Leinster fly-half Sexton is under threat as he is thought to have received a number of big-money offers to play in France.

Heaslip, now Sexton’s captain at international level, has added to the calls for the 27-year-old to sign a new deal that will keep him in Dublin.

But Heaslip, who succeeded Brian O’Driscoll as Declan Kidney’s skipper last week, understands the allure of France to Sexton, having himself had to make a choice of whether to leave Leinster for a new challenge.

Yet having decided to remain, Heaslip has hinted he would like to see out his career at the RDS, saying “there is plenty of time for travelling once you retire”.

“I hope Jonny stays,” said Heaslip. “He is a world-class player and obviously I don’t want him going anywhere. But it’s up to him whether he stays or goes, if he’s happy with the terms or not.

“I know he is delighted like the rest of us to play for Leinster and be part of that organisation, but again there are all sorts of different things in play there.”

Heaslip admits he understands the allure of an attractive wage package, as Sexton weighs up the big-money offers from the likes of Racing Metro.

He added: “This is a game we would play regardless of whether we were getting paid or not, but you have to take into consideration the time period we can play, and you effectively start from scratch once you finish rugby in your mid-30s.

“You have to look after yourself to a certain degree and you have to weigh up what you get versus where you are going to be, and the only player who can tell you how that scale works is yourself.

“I looked into doing something similar to James Haskell, where he went to play in Japan and then the Super 15 before coming back, but it wasn’t to be for me.

“My brother is married to a Japanese girl and lives near Osaka. Some people are home-birds and wouldn’t enjoy living away, but I think I would enjoy it.

“I thought it would be cool to go and work in other countries and experience different things, but there will be plenty of time for travelling when I’ve finished playing rugby. I’m more than happy where I am.”