As we get over the reality that Johnny Sexton will no longer be gracing the pitches of the Aviva and the RDS, we take a look at one of Ireland's sporting great career stats and what he will get up to next.
As a devoted father of three, it seems certain that Sexton will take some time with his family in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup before moving on to his next life venture.
How old is Johnny Sexton and where is he from?
Sexton was born on July 11, 1985, making him 38 years old.
He grew up in Rathgar in Dublin and attended St Mary's College in Rathmines.
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What is Next For Ireland Legend Johnny Sexton?
The world of business awaits for Sexton, where he has been dipping his toes with part-time commercial work for the glass bottle and metal can container manufacturer, the Ardagh Group.
Sexton has spoken before about taking on a full-time role with Ardagh, something that was also stated in the Business Post last month.
"I think with family life it's very difficult to become a coach," Sexton said in May 2022. "You need to do the hard yards."
I'm not sure I'm willing to do that to be a coach.
I’m doing a bit of work experience at the moment with a great company and doing one day a week trying to prepare myself for life after rugby
I’ve been up there learning from their people and it’s very impressive.
Hopefully when rugby finishes, I might go in there, and they might be able to learn things from me and I hopefully I’ll be able to learn a lot from them and show myself at a different of life away from sport.
14 October 2023; Jonathan Sexton of Ireland after his side's defeat in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Will Johnny Sexton Return To rugby as a coach or pundit?
Given Sexton's nature as a rugby player, and his commanding, coach-like presence on the field, it comes as no surprise to see some of the most highly respected figures in the sport talking about his potential in the field of coaching. A role with Leinster would be an obvious first step into the world of coaching, but it seems unlikely, according to his former coach and teammate with Leinster, that he'd take an immediate role with the club.
"Johnny’s an amazing rugby mind,” Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said.
“We’ve had numerous conversations on this very topic.
“He just needs to figure out what works for him and his family ultimately, because the level he’s playing in the game and there’s so much demands on him in his current role; being captain of Leinster, of Ireland for a long period of time now.
“So, what does that next step looks like? He just needs probably a bit of time, but he’s an amazing rugby mind, so, he would be a great asset.
“It’d be amazing if it was with Leinster at some point in the future, but he’s a slightly different path lined out at the moment."
His old teammate Brian O'Driscoll also recently discussed the topic of Sexton's post-retirement life, and was adamant that Sexton's rugby mind would be wasted if he didn't eventually return to the game.
With that much rugby IP it would be such a shame to pass it up. I can't see him not being in the game, maybe not immediately, but the longer term.
It's what he loves, he's obsessed with it, he really is. I loved rugby, but I wasn't obsessed by it like he is. He gives it so much thought throughout the day about perfecting and everything he does and it's just the way he's made and I would have driven myself stir crazy if I thought about it that much.
And for me it was click in and click out. When it needed thinking it got it, and when I was away from it the last thing I wanted to do was think about it.
So I can't see a scenario where he's not involved in rugby coaching in three years time.
However, O'Driscoll also mentioned that if he takes to life with Ardagh like he did to rugby, it may be awhile, if ever, until we see him back in a professional rugby environment.
"So maybe he needs to do a year in our Ardagh, and maybe that, what I hope for him, if it lights him up like rugby has and if it does I'd be jealous of him. I'd be envious of him because to be able to convert from something you love to, then a secondary thing you love."
Sexton appeared to rule out a future as a pundit back in 2021.
Whatever Johnny Sexton ends up doing in the near future, if he meets it with even a fraction of the commitment he gave to rugby, then you would be a fool to bet against him having great success in his new field of interest.
Who is the oldest Irish rugby player?
Johnny Sexton has surpassed John Hayes's record as Ireland's oldest men's international player.
Hayes's record had stood since August 2011, when Hayes represented Ireland at the age of 37 years and 277 days.
Sexton overtook the title when he lined out against Romania in Ireland's opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Sexton played his last game in green in the quarter-final stage of the tournament, which saw the Irish fall to the All Blacks.
Sexton is now the oldest men's Irish rugby player at 38 years, three months and three days. This was his age when Ireland played the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final on October 14th.
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Which Irish rugby player has scored the most points?
Johnny Sexton is Ireland rugby's all-time points scorer. Sexton has scored 1108 points for Ireland rugby from 2009 to 2023 making him the Irish rugby players who has scored the most points. Ronan O'Gara is second on the list with 1083 points.
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