Garry Ringrose stepping up as a Leinster leader

Ringrose is entering what most people would agree is the prime of a player’s career, that sweet spot leading up to a 30th birthday

LEADER: Leinster captain Garry Ringrose and Dan Sheehan prepare to walk out before the Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round 1 match against Racing 92 at Stade Océane in Le Havre, France. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Johnny Sexton’s impending retirement doesn’t just invite questions as to his replacement as Ireland’s out-half. It remains to be seen who gets handed the armband when Ireland’s skipper calls time after next year’s World Cup.

James Ryan, Iain Henderson and Tadhg Furlong have all earned that honour since Sexton first led the national side out against Russia at the 2019 World Cup. All of them are key figures in the team’s leadership group but so is Garry Ringrose.