Sexton happy Irish stars are staying at home

He may be bedding in to life in France, but Jonathan Sexton’s opinion the best Irish players need to stick to home comforts back here has, if anything, only solidified after over 12 months on the continent.

Thu, 21 Aug, 2014 - 01:00

The out-half kicked four penalties from four last weekend as Racing Metro edged out Montpellier on the road in the opening game of a campaign in which the Parisian side is targeting both domestic and European silverware.

Yet, the loss of the Dubliner to the French game hasn’t resulted in the feared exodus of the top players from the provinces with Jamie Heaslip – named yesterday as Leinster’s new captain – and Sean O’Brien among those to snub Gallic advances.

“I’m glad,” said Sexton. “Sean and Jamie last year were obviously the high-profile ones. We have a bit of a joke that I’m still looking for the commission off their deals after they got the deals they wanted.

“The union and the provinces are working closer together and I think it is just so important the players stay in Ireland from a welfare point of view, and being looked after for the internationals. It’s important.”

The strength of the French league is obvious simply by looking at Racing’s opening month which, after Montpellier, includes trips to Bordeaux-Begles and Clermont Auvergne as well as a visit to Paris of Toulon.

With Toulon edging out Saracens in the last ever Heineken final three months ago and the Anglo-French alliance winning the war that coughed up the new Rugby Champions Cup there are fears that the provinces will find it harder to keep pace.

“The good thing about Ireland is there are four teams and a lot of players. Leinster, Munster and Ulster will always be there and be competing in the Champions Cup and Connacht with some of the players they have signed they will be looking to qualify too.

“The Irish provinces will always be competitive. It’s too important. You see with Leinster signing [Ben] Te’o and Kane Douglas they have signed quality internationals and with that quality coming in they’ll have no problem competing.”