What will Johnny Sexton do next is still one of the burning questions in the Irish rugby sphere, as Leinster and Ireland learn to cope without their stalwart captain, and legend of the game.
A business career is what seems likely for the 38-year-old, but fans live in hope that he will return to the game in some shape or form.
Johnny Sexton As An Ireland 7s Player
In a recent interview, Ireland sevens head coach, James Topping, was asked light-heartedly asked about Sexton's potential as a sevens player, with the Paris Olympics looming large.
Well, hopefully we get enough restarts, he could take them. No. We have got these guys here. They are all good to go, they are ready for this tournament. We always look to build our squad, we are always interested in seeing down the line.
I get lots of emails, lots of phone calls all the time, so building the squad is what makes the squad and the guys who are in the squad know that as well. It’s a case of making sure we put ourselves in good stead in the World Series and let’s see what options we have going into Olympics.
With Antoine Dupont poised to begin his sevens career with France, there has been talk of Irish stars doing the same, but even in a serious conversation, Sexton's play style would not be suited to the shorter format, like a quicker out-half in the Beauden Barrett/Jack Crowley mould.
READ HERE: What's Next For Johnny Sexton? Business World Calling For Ireland Legend
READ HERE: Picking An Ireland 7s Team For The Olympics From 15-A-Side Players
16 October 2023; Captain Jonathan Sexton with Air Lingus fleet captain Frank Lawless, who flew the team home, at the Ireland rugby teams return to Dublin Airport from the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“We can’t play like Fiji, we haven’t got that sort of personnel, so we are very much relying on our skills like the 15-a-side," Topping added.
“Obviously, Terry Kennedy is probably one of the best sevens players in the world, so we can base a lot of our game around what he does, and there are three or four other guys in the same sort of boat as him. We have got to try and work what our strengths are and stay to that and that is the smart way we can do it.
“If we try to play sevens in its purest form we would suffer so we are a pretty structured team. With that structure, if we have guys who come in from the 15-a-side game it’s a bit easier for them to come in to try and develop as well.”
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