Schmidt seeks Sexton compromise

Joe Schmidt has held discussions with Racing Metro joint-coach Laurent Labit with a view to working out how Jonathan Sexton’s club and national paymasters can better manage the player to the benefit of both camps next season.

The Ireland fly-half put rumours of an impending return to Leinster to bed once and for all on Monday evening when he told RTÉ Radio that he would be seeing out the remainder of his two-year contract with the Parisian club next season.

That will make the need for good relations between Dublin and Paris paramount next season, the last prior to the 2015 World Cup, and it is noteworthy that Schmidt made time during the crucial weekend just passed to speak with Labit.