While Brian O'Driscoll and Johnny Sexton may be the two greatest rugby players to ever don the Irish jersey, legendary centre O'Driscoll has revealed one aspect of Sexton's career that left him envious.
When the ongoing debate about who was truly the greatest arises again, the similarity of their on field accolades will make it nearly impossible to separate the pair.
Both Leinster backs captained their country, became Irish centurions, hoisted Six Nations trophies and won everything available to them at the provincial level. However, one opportunity that Sexton's longevity offered him has left BOD somewhat envious.
O'Driscoll hung up his boots in 2014 at the age of 35 having enjoyed a decorated 15-year international career. While Sexton's equally decorated international stint was shorter by a year, the out-half's relatively late arrival to the international scene saw him still adding to his cap count after he'd turned 38. Something which afforded Leinster's ten the opportunity to share the highs and lows of rugby with his son Luca.
25 November 2023; Former Leinster captain Jonathan Sexton, alongside his son Luca, is introduced to the crowd before the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
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Brian O'Driscoll Envious of one aspect of Sexton's career
Unfortunately for O'Driscoll his own children were too young to bask in his success in green, with the former Irish captain revealing that they're more interested in Messi and Ronaldo than his career.
Speaking on Ryan Tubridy's Bookshelf podcast, Brian O'Driscoll revealed that seeing Johnny Sexton being able to share the later years of his rugby career with his son Luca left him somewhat envious of the out-half.
I don't know if we pay all that much heed to it (my rugby career).....I've been to games with them (my kids), so that's lovely, you're kind of reminiscing, but you're living those experiences vicariously through them really, rather than for yourself...I'm not going for myself anymore, I'm going to watch their joy and a little bit of me feels it's a shame that they weren't around or old enough to enjoy even a couple of years.
You look at someone like Johnny Sexton who had so much joy with his children and a bit of heartbreak as well, but a little bit of you thinks that would've been nice.
I don't think my son has ever watched a YouTube clip of me in his life, it's Messi and Ronaldo.
While they may not be watching the clips now, there's no doubt that as the years rumble on O'Driscoll's children will grow to appreciate the contribution their father made to Irish rugby.
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