‘JOHNNY IS THE RIGHT MAN TO TAKE LEINSTER FORWARD’

Top gear: (l-r) Dan Leavy, Joe Tomane and Rhys Ruddock wear the new Leinster jersey in Life Style Sports yesterday LEINSTER flanker Rhys Ruddock says Johnny Sexton is the ideal choice as captain as the province attempts to back up their double winning achievement from last season. Sexton has big boots to fill with Isa Nacewa retiring after captaining Leinster to European Champions Cup and Pro14 glory but Ruddock, who has been named vice-captain for the new campaign has no doubt the Ireland and Lions star will take it in his stride. ‘He is the right man for the job and if anyone can take over Isa’s mantle and bring us forward, it’s Johnny, with his commitment to the club and his passion for Leinster,’ stressed the 27-year-old backrow. ‘I have a huge amount of respect for him and I know all the guys are willing to roll up around him. The values and the way he lives day-to-day is an example to any young player. ‘He is the consummate professional the way he looks after himself and the details he goes into, to prepare for a game, and how he brings on others around him,’ added Ruddock, who was launching the new Leinster jerseys yesterday at Lifestyle Sports. Meanwhile, former Ulster out-half Paddy Jackson is set to play his first organised rugby match in a year when his new Top14 club Perpignan take on Toulouse in a preseason friendly today. Jackson, and his Ulster and Ireland teammate Stuart Olding, had their contracts revoked by the IRFU last April in the fallout from the Belfast rape trial when both men were acquitted of all charges. Former Ulster and Ireland centre Olding is now playing with Brive in the ProD2, a division below Jackson. Elsewhere, Pacific Islands campaigners have called for an end to ‘unfair inequality’ at global governing body World Rugby. Pressure group Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW) has launched its ‘Seats At The Table’ campaign, to push for greater Pacific Islands representation on the World Rugby Council. The Pacific Islands nations’ only current influence on the World Rugby Council falls under Oceania Rugby’s two votes of a total 48. World Rugby has branded PRPW’s stance ‘surprising’.