Ireland flyhalf Sexton extends contract until 2021

World Rugby player of the year Johnny Sexton extended his contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) yesterday to keep playing in his homeland until the end of the 2020/21 season.

Sexton, 33, was crowned as the world’s best player for 2018 last month after leading Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam, a Test series victory in Australia and a first ever win over New Zealand on Irish soil, as well as spearheading Leinster’s Champions Cup and Pro14 success at club level. “I am delighted to sign a new IRFU contract to continue to play for Leinster and Ireland. It is where I have always wanted to play so I am delighted to extend,” said Sexton in an IRFU statement.

“We get looked after extremely well here and it is an exciting time for Irish Rugby. I am looking forward to hopefully being a part of that over the next few years”

The 33-year-old fly-half has won 78 caps, scoring 738 points, and has twice toured with the British and Irish Lions. Sexton had a two-year spell with Racing Metro in France between 2013 and 2015 before returning to Leinster, where he is now expected to finish his career.

His contract was due to expire after next year’s World Cup where Ireland are expected to challenge the All Blacks to win the tournament for the first time in Japan.

“Johnny’s hunger and drive mark him out as a truly worldclass competitor,” said IRFU performance director David Nucifora.

“He is a model professional and has been at the centre of a lot of the success enjoyed by Irish Rugby over the past few years.”