Irish rugby fans breathed a collective sigh of relief last night when it was revealed that Johnny Sexton would serve a three-match ban for his outburst at officials in the aftermath of Leinster's Champions Cup final loss to La Rochelle earlier this summer.
The process to get to this has been a protracted one, with differing reports as to the punishment that 38-year old could face. Some felt he would go essentially unpunished for his actions, while others were concerned that he could be suspended for some of the World Cup.
In the end, the three game ban means he will miss all of Ireland's warmup games for the event. However, he will be available for the tournament opener against Romania on September 9th.
England rugby fans not happy with Johnny Sexton ban
While Ireland fans will be thrilled that the team captain will be available for the entirety of the World Cup campaign, some outside of the country believe that his punishment was unduly lenient.
In fact, some followers of English rugby couldn't help but compare it to a ban handed out to Dylan Hartley back in 2013, one that ultimately cost him his place on the Lions tour to Australia that summer.
On that occasion, the England hooker was banned for 11 weeks after he was sent off an verbally abused a referee in the English Premiership final.
Some felt that the discrepancy in this punishment in comparison to Sexton's was unfair.
A reminder that Dylan Hartley received an 11 week ban following the Premiership Final in 2013.
Difficult to see the difference between the two.
Rugby's inconsistencies strike again.— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) July 16, 2023
Ten years ago Dylan Hartley got 11 weeks for verbally abusing the referee and missed a Lions tour. Johnny Sexton, guilty on all 3 counts of being ‘confrontational, aggressive, disrespectful and hostile’ to all 3 match officials, gets off with 3 matches. Lucky, lucky, lucky.
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) July 17, 2023
Hartley got 11 weeks. Sexton 3. Seems a but unbalanced.
— Phil Elkins (@PhilFarmVet) July 16, 2023
Can’t really compare Sexton with the Hartley/Erasmus bans, but three games seems light, I’m sure he (and Ireland) will be delighted. Must have taken some proper decent biscuits into the hearing.
— Sam (@sblmgm) July 17, 2023
Shocking decision to only ban Sexton for 3 games so he can play in @rugbyworldcup. I seem to remember Hartley getting banned for 11 games for on field behaviour in the heat of the moment. Sexton wasn’t even playing. Where has the games values gone @IrishRugby @WorldRugby
— Ross Hunt (@DJRossHunt) July 17, 2023
So the difference between the words 'cheat' (Hartley) and 'disgrace' (Sexton) is about 8 weeks it would seem!!!!
— John Cahill 🇬🇧🇮🇪🇺🇦 (@JohnMCahill) July 17, 2023
Should be banned for the tournament. Dylan Hartley got 11 weeks for calling Wayne Barnes a Fucking Cheat in 2013, yet Sexton only gets 3 games for being abusive to the ref.😒 https://t.co/pWo6mILYzQ
— Pasty (@Gregor_McBeth) July 17, 2023
However, many pointed out that the two situations were not really comparable. Not only was the language used by Johnny Sexton less harsh, but he also had a relatively spotless disciplinary record in comparison to the former England player. In fact, Hartley had already served 36 weeks of bans in the years leading up to that particular event.
Regardless of how the punishment is received elsewhere, those associated with the Ireland camp will be relieved to have their talisman available for the start of the Rugby World Cup. While his inability to feature in any of their three warmup games is not ideal, the outcome could have been far worse.
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