Johnny Sexton hints at retirement a year before 2023 Rugby World Cup

The veteran Ireland out-half is close to signing a new one-year contract but he is contemplating life away from rugby when he does hang up his boots

Johnny Sexton of Ireland is tackled by Taulupe Faletau of Wales during the Six Nations clash earlier this month. Picture: Gareth Everett/Sportsfile

Johnny Sexton has hinted that he will likely not see out this World Cup cycle as a player and the veteran out-half may well walk away from the game entirely when the time does come to hang up his boots.

Currently in talks to extend his current contract for another year through to the summer of 2022, Sexton joked this afternoon that the discussions are “nearly there” but that Leinster have a good crop of young number 10s waiting to come through.