World Cup ‘huge factor’ as Johnny Sexton determined to leave on a high

Ireland skipper's contract takes him to the end of the 2023 World Cup 

Jonathan Sexton: 'I don’t feel like I want to walk away and I feel that I can still contribute and I want to and that’s the most important thing. I love coming to work every day.' Picture: Inpho/Ryan Byrne

Welcome to the longest of Irish rugby’s long goodbyes. Back in September 2013, Brian O’Driscoll gave notice of his decision to retire from the game at the end of that campaign after finally rejecting the pleas of the Leinster faithful for “one more year”.

Yesterday, Johnny Sexton left himself with a full 18 months to count down before he finally calls time on his own glittering career having revealed his decision that the IRFU contract he has signed to take him to the end of the 2023 World Cup will be his last as a player.