Lorenzetti insists Sexton deal is not done

The French media is no wiser than the Irish about where Jonathan Sexton will be playing next season with Racing Metro president Jacky Lorenzetti denying a deal had been done.

“This is nonsense,” said Lorenzetti in a television interview. “I don’t deny that we have been in contact (with Sexton). But the numbers being talked about are beyond our means.”

Sports daily L’Equipe reported yesterday the Irishman had met Lorenzetti in Paris to sign a contract last Tuesday but adds the two parties were unable to come to an agreement over Sexton’s reported wage demands of €750,000 per year. Quoting a source close to Sexton, L’Equipe says the Leinster man has told friends he will playing in the Top 14 next season “in blue, yellow or red” suggesting talks are continuing with Racing, Clermont and Toulon.

Meanwhile, Ulster winger Andrew Trimble has been omitted from Ireland’s 33-man training squad ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales.

Eleven of the Ireland Wolfhounds side that lost 14-10 to England Saxons in Galway on Friday night are included — but Trimble is not one of them. Dave McSharry and Paddy Jackson are both recovering from minor knocks in time to join the rest of the squad at their Carton House base in Kildare.

The Ireland team to play Wales will be announced tomorrow at lunchtime.

IRELAND training squad: M Bent, R Best, T Court, S Cronin, G D’Arcy, K Earls, L Fitzgerald, D Fitzpatrick, C Gilroy, C Healy, J Heaslip, I Henderson, C Henry, P Jackson, R Kearney, D Kilcoyne, C Murray, M McCarthy, K McLaughlin, F McFadden, D McSharry, S O’Brien, D O’Callaghan, B O’Driscoll, R O’Gara, P O’Mahony, E Reddan, M Ross, D Ryan, J Sexton, M Sherry, D Toner, S Zebo.