In hindsight, Johnny Sexton wishes he’d taken a similar approach to Jamie Heaslip regarding his medical information.
The former Ireland captain said he was never comfortable with the public knowing details about his health. He withheld information regarding the nature of the back injury which forced him to retire earlier this year.
“If I had my time back again, I'd do the same. I can see why,” Sexton said this week at his unveiling as a MACE ambassador.
“People take what is said in the media as gospel and often it isn't the case. If you take my example, with the stigma of concussion being attached to me, when I haven't had a lot of them.”
Sexton’s main reason for wishing he had kept his information private is simple: he’s is having ongoing problems with getting injury insurance.
Suddenly insurance companies don't want to insure you for concussion because [they think] you've had loads when you haven't.
I can see why players don't want their information out there because it can just lead to problems in the future and it can be disappointing because it can be twisted and I think at times it's better just to say nothing.
"100 per cent, that's exactly what happened," said Sexton when asked if reports in the media regarding his injuries have caused him issues with insurance companies.
The 33-year-old said in January that he has only had "two or three concussions".
“You can come out and try and clarify things and people will criticise you for trying to clarify and say you're only looking out for yourself and not the generation that is coming after you and you should be more responsible.
“I was only trying to tell the truth and still got taken. You can't win.”
Asked if he has fixed his problems regarding insurance, Sexton - with a laugh - responded: “I didn't. I'm still trying to resolve them.”
Up until earlier this week, it had been presumed - due to the lack of information available regarding the injury which has kept him out of action since the summer - that Conor Murray was taking the route of protecting his medical information.
That has since turned out to not be the case. Murray said this week that such an approach currently does not interest him. He simply did not know the exact nature of his neck problem - it has since been identified as a bulging disc.
Murray, who was speaking just 90 minutes after Sexton on Wednesday morning, said he has not encountered problems, as Sexton has with insurance companies.
"It's a complex thing and it's different for every individual," said Murray.
"In my own case, I renew it every year, obviously. It's really important that players do that.
"I've renewed it and they are fully aware of my medical situation so I've no problem but, obviously, if you've an injury, the premium goes up a little bit but other than that it's been fine."
MACE, Ireland’s longest serving convenience brand, has teamed up with Ireland rugby star Johnny Sexton in an exciting new partnership. MACE stores are at the heart of the communities they serve and together with new brand ambassador, Johnny Sexton, a new advertising and social media campaign, along with a series of community initiatives, will further strengthen these links.
Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
