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IRELAND LEGEND JOHNNY Sexton has been named as part of Andy Farrell’s coaching staff for this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
The IRFU has also confirmed that Sexton will move into a full-time coaching role with Farrell’s Ireland next season, as well as working with “various men’s and women’s national age-grade sides.”
Lions head coach Farrell, who is currently on a break from his role with Ireland to lead the tourists this summer, had already named three of his Irish assistant coaches as part of the Lions set-up.
Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman, and John Fogarty were all confirmed as Lions assistant coaches last month. Aled Walters and Vinny Hammond, Ireland’s head of athletic performance and head of analysis, were also previously announced as part of the Lions set-up.
They will now be joined by former Ireland and Leinster out-half Sexton, who is still in his first season as a coach.
The 42 understands that Sexton will take up a role as the Lions’ kicking coach.
Sexton joined the Ireland set-up on a part-time basis this season to work on their kicking game and mentor their out-halves, while continuing to work full-time with the packaging company Ardagh Group.
However, Farrell has a strong relationship with Sexton and clearly appreciates the value the 39-year-old can bring as a coach.
“I coached Johnny for the very first time during the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia and the love that he had for the British & Irish Lions was reflected in how he operated on a daily basis,” said Farrell as Sexton’s Lions role was confirmed.
“His influence on that Lions team and that series win, our only win in the last 24 years, should not be underestimated.
“His fight and his dedication as a player is something that he will bring to this Lions tour and I know that the players will relish his experience and expertise alongside all of our assistant coaches.”
Sexton was appointed as Ireland’s full-time captain for the first time by Farrell, taking on the role in 2020 at the age of 34 and calling it “the biggest honour of my career.”
Sexton, who was World Rugby player of the year in 2018, went on to lead Ireland to the Grand Slam in 2023. He retired from playing after Ireland’s quarter-final exit at the 2023 World Cup and initially stated that he wouldn’t be moving into coaching.
Sexton expressed reservations about immediately working with players who had been team-mates so recently, but Farrell and the IRFU convinced him to take on the part-time role with Ireland this season.
That initially meant only working directly with Ireland on specific days during the training week and not being with the team on match days. But when Sexton travelled with Ireland to their pre-Six Nations training camp in Portugal, it indicated a step up in involvement and by the end of the championship, he was part of their match day staff.
Sexton was not named on the interim Ireland coaching team for this summer’s Tests against Georgia and Portugal, which will be led by interim head coach Paul O’Connell.
Initially, that suggested that Sexton might take a step back from the hands-on coaching with Ireland, but instead he will have a busy summer in Australia with the Lions.
Sexton toured with the Lions as a player in 2013 and 2017, playing in all six Tests, but missed out on featuring in 2021, a huge disappointment for him. Now, he will get his shot at being involved in a third Lions tour.
Thereafter, Sexton will move into a full-time position with the IRFU.
The Irish union says Sexton will have an “expanded coaching role” working with various teams, including Farrell’s senior men’s team.
“I am excited to join the IRFU on a full-time basis and am extremely passionate about the opportunity to work with current and future players,” said Sexton.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have great coaches, who nurtured and developed my skills, and I am keen to share my experiences with the next generation and help them achieve their goals.
“The level of investment and focus on the pathways in Ireland is really encouraging and I believe the future is really bright for men’s and women’s rugby in Ireland.”
Written by Murray Kinsella and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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Why do the journal not name the tramps that have been charged with the vicious assault on Tom Niland?
@Gavin Linden: they will be named soon enough.
@OConnelj: They are named every where else though.
@Gavin Linden: I didn’t know that Gavin, I haven’t looked.
@OConnelj: when you say “everywhere else” do you mean reputable news sources or some posts on social media?
@OConnelj: RTÉ have named them on their site
@Gavin Linden: they are named in the article about them
In all honesty, though, who gives rice milk to children and thinks it’s a healthy choice?
@sean o’dhubhghaill: It’s scary that they even have to tell people this, but I remember some poor Belgian child dying a few years ago cause their vegan parents somehow thought it was a good idea to wean them on to the like of this. Remember this is a world where they need to put warnings on microwave manuals, to not put animals in them.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: people who’s children have an intolerance to diary which is very common. The problem is people try alternatives without consulting a nutritionist. Probably due to the expense.
@Rmaybe: goats milk is a safe alternative, the makeup of goats milk is the nearest of all milks to breast milk.
The world is gone mad isn’t it?
@Paul Gorry: is it though? Was it always? And now we are of an age to see it for what it really is?
@Dearbhla O Reilly: caps of to you Dearbhla very fair point.
Cows milk is for calves. I’ll take my chances with arsenic atm
@Susan McMahon: cows milk may be for calves but if you think drinking something natural like that is wrong how to you reconcile drinking milk from rice. Rice! Surely something that can only exist as a result of an industrial manufacturing process can’t be better than drinking cows milk? Does your cat feel the same way? I mean how do you even milk rice? Their nipples must be tiny.
@Susan McMahon: I’m sure you drank your fair share of milk when you were young, so if it’s only for calves, that would make you a cow now.
@Susan McMahon: cows milk is for calves. Correct. There is no evidence to show that cows milk is harmful for humans. Also correct
@Susan McMahon: It’s been good enough for humans for the last 10,000 years. So much so that we’ve almost lost our adult lactose intolerance that other mammals keep. Now that’s progress!
@Ivan Connolly: Cats have lactose intolerance. Even though they may enjoy the odd plate of milk, they tend to have nasty diarrhoea afterwards.
@Susan McMahon: Thats not what the article is about, it about possibly poisoning children with oat extract.
Vegan warriors trying to push their way on us .. if I want a sizzling steak with cheese and a big pint of milk I will have it so pipe down . 95% of the country like it that way
@Gerrard: who are you telling to pipe down? Reading through the comments it doesn’t look like anyone is trying to dictate to you.
This got a mention on Joe Duffy yesterday as a viable alternative.
@Pat Barry: As part of a balanced diet, rice milk can be fine. As a substitute for infant formula or breast milk – not so much.
Rice extract can be a usual diet supplement. It is not milk, nr is any of the other overly prices “milks” being sold. It is extract from nuts.
The arrogance of people to decide to feed a child a substance that can kill the child due to their beliefs is frightening.
Not surprising as there are plenty of anti vaxers out there.
As for vegans, fine if you want to be one, off you go. Just please do not hold a high and mighty attitude and lecture us. Who choose not to be. I respect your decision, not respect mine. I dont want to be told that I am eating a baby, when eating meat. I am eating a farm animal. Possibly a young farm animal. Not a baby. Besides all you do is make me more determined to eat more meat. I try and eat as much free range and ethically farmed meat as possible. It is not always possible on a pension. I am not a middle class professional earning good money.
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