Sexton: France move wasn’t my first choice

Jonathan Sexton last night opened up about his move to France next season for the first time since news of his switch to Racing Metro broke and confirmed that his first preference was to remain a Leinster player.

The Ireland and soon-to-be British and Irish Lions out-half admitted that there would be regrets and sadness at his departure from the province after the failure to agree a new contract with the IRFU prior to this year‘s Six Nations.

“Of course, yeah. Leinster still is a massive part of my life, not just my career but my personal life as well,” he said at last night’s annual IRUPA awards. “A lot of my best friends are guys that I have been playing rugby with since I was 15 or 16. It was never between me and Leinster.

“If me and Leinster sat down I’m sure I would be there next year but that’s not the way it works. That’s unfortunate but, listen, once these next three (Leinster) games are finished and the small matter of a Lions tour is over, I can start to get excited about a new challenge in my life.”

Sexton has been brushing up on the French he learned in school with a private tutor. He has also arranged his accommodation in Paris and signalled his determination to assimilate into life on and off the pitch as quickly as possible.

“The club have been great in helping me get organised. I know a good few of the players and it’s very exciting the quality of players they have signed for next year. There’s a lot of English-speaking guys which will help me settle in.

“But I am determined to make an impression on the French guys as well. They are the guys who will be running the club and I want to show them that I am there for the right reasons and to win things for them.”

Sexton’s departure will open the door further for Ian Madigan who, somewhat surprisingly, wasn’t among the three men in contention for the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award.

Instead, the honour went the way of Ulster’s Nick Williams who fended off the candidacies of Leinster’s Cian Healy and Munster’s Simon Zebo on the back of a vote taken among their fellow professionals.

Williams is only the second non-Irishman to receive the accolade, following on from Leinster’s Isa Nacewa in doing so, and his success last night completes a remarkable turn of fortunes for a man who disappointed so badly at Munster.

Williams was also voted the RaboDirect PRO12’s player of the season last weekend.

Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year: Nick Williams (Ulster).

Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year: Robbie Henshaw (Connacht).

VW Try of the Year: Craig Gilroy (Ulster and Ireland) for his try v Argentina last November.

BNY Mellon IRUPA Hall of Fame: Denis Hickie (Leinster and Ireland).

O2 Unsung Hero: Billy Holland (Munster).

Newstalk 106-108fm Supporters Player of the Year: Simon Zebo (Munster and Ireland).

Hibernia College Medal for Excellence: Isaac Boss (Leinster and Ireland).