According to reports in this morning’s Irish Independent, Lions and Irish fly half Jonathan Sexton will return to Leinster Rugby on a four year deal from next season.

Given that Sexton has opted for a return to Leinster Blue represents a significant coup for the RDS based side, given Racing  Metro’s intent to renew his current deal and mooted interest from Toulon who were supposedly keen on offering the Irishman a €900,000 per-annum contract to replace English legend Jonny Wilkinson.

Naturally, Irish coach Joe Schmidt, who knows Sexton from their time together at Leinster and, indeed, Ireland, will be delighted at the impending return of the fly half. Sexton returning to Ireland, means he will be an IRFU employee and will be part of the Irish Player management scheme, which should see him rested and primed in advance of the 2015 World Cup.

The French Top 14 is a grueling schedule and had Sexton remained at Racing he wouldn’t be afforded the same rest and recuperation periods that Irish international players receive as part of their contracts.

Sexton signed a two year contract with the Parisians in 2013 with an option of a third year after protracted negotiations with the IRFU broke down.

Together, Schmidt and Sexton have won several trophies at both Leinster and Ireland, and both men will hope that their partnership bares even more fruit from 2015 onwards.

Article Source: Irish Independent

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