Former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has revealed he “might have been tempted” to prolong his playing career if Leinster had offered him a contract after the Rugby World Cup.
Despite receiving offers from overseas clubs, reportedly in Japan and the USA, the 38-year-old turned down the opportunity to come out of retirement.
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Offers from Abroad Rejected
The 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year retired after Ireland’s quarter-final loss to New Zealand in Paris, where he played the full 80 minutes at fly-half in his final match. Though several foreign clubs showed interest, Sexton ultimately declined their offers.
“I made the decision long before the World Cup that this was going to be my last,” the 118-cap veteran told BBC Sport NI. “I had a couple of offers to go abroad and play, but that didn’t appeal to me, really.”
No Leinster Extension
Sexton admitted he could have been persuaded to stay on had Leinster extended his contract beyond the World Cup.
“I might have been tempted had Leinster said to me to maybe stay on for the end of the season, but they didn’t,” he explained. “I didn’t really, I suppose, have the option.”
Sexton remains one of the most decorated players in Irish rugby history, with an illustrious career that spanned over a decade.
New career
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from University College Dublin in 2012 and is now applying that qualification as a Commercial Manager for Ardagh Group, a multi-billion-pound glass and metal company.
Ardagh Group operates globally, with headquarters in Luxembourg, and is recognized as a leading provider of infinitely recyclable glass and metal packaging solutions for major global brands. The company boasts 63 facilities, 20,000 employees, and annual sales exceeding £7 billion.
As Sexton transitions from rugby, his outstanding leadership skills will likely prove valuable in the business world.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he has held the title of Commercial Manager since April 2021, and now, with his rugby career behind him, he can fully focus on this role.
The Three Richest Couples in World Rugby
Rugby has produced some of the most iconic athletes in the sporting world, but for a select few, success on the pitch has also led to immense wealth off it.
From high-profile marriages to lucrative endorsements and television appearances, these rugby stars have built financial empires.
Here’s a look at three couples who have combined their sporting legacies with fame and fortune, amassing millions along the way.
Mike and Zara Tindall – £20m
Mike Tindall is known not just for his rugby prowess but for his royal connections. As the husband of Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Tindall has become a prominent figure in British media.
Nicknamed “The Fridge” due to his imposing physique, Tindall was a stalwart on the rugby field, famously breaking his nose at least eight times over the course of his career. Since retiring from the sport, he’s made a name for himself in the entertainment world, appearing on popular reality shows such as I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, The Jump, Shark Cage, Celebrity Poker Club, and All-Star Poker Challenge.
Despite his success in sports and entertainment, Tindall’s wealth has been largely bolstered by his royal ties, with his net worth estimated at £20 million, according to British media.
