Sexton says Ioane 'inheriting big responsibility' following successful foreign Leinster imports

New Zealand's Rieko Ioane. Pic: Gary Carr/Inpho

Johnny Sexton has declared that his old sparring partner Rieko Ioane is inheriting a big responsibility in joining a long line of influential foreign imports that have pushed Leinster to great heights.

The province has profited massively from the injection of players such as Rocky Elsom, Isa Nacew, Brad Thorn and Nathan Hines down the years. All four of their European Cups have been won with key inputs from non-Irish players.

Ioane joins the club this week with 87 caps and 38 tries for the All Blacks, and he was a nominee for World Rugby player of the year in 2017 and again a year later. Still only 28, he has fallen down the pecking order with New Zealand.

Irish fans will remember his spat with Sexton after Ireland lost that World Cup quarter-final to New Zealand in 2023 when the Kiwi slagged the Irishman about his upcoming retirement. Sexton responded by calling him a “fake-humble f****r ‘ at the time.

Details of the spat were shared in Sexton’s subsequent book and Ioane leaned into the pantomime villain role a month after when cupping his ears to the Aviva Stadium crowd after the All Blacks beat Ireland again this time last year.

Then he took to social media with: “Put that in the book”.

So, with Ioane due to arrive in Dublin at week’s end to start a short-term contract similar to Jordie Barrett’s last term, Sexton was asked for his take on the signing given the “history” between them.

“One of the biggest influences on Leinster has been foreign players, getting the right people in, and the right players, but first and foremost good people,” said the retired out-half.

“When you consider the people that we've had over the years like Isa Nacewa… I can only speak about me, but the impact he had on me personally… Brad Thorn. The impact they've had on the environment and the values and all those type of things [has been] massive.

“From what I hear, Jordie Barrett the exact same. Yeah, it's a big responsibility he's got, and he's got to follow some pretty special people and characters before him. But look, I've nothing to do with Leinster anymore, really. It's nothing to do with me.”