Johnny Sexton is a doubt for Ireland’s Six Nations campaign after Leinster confirmed he was due to undergo a procedure on an injured cheekbone on Tuesday.
This year’s championship is expected to be the 37-year-old’s last but he now looks likely to miss Ireland’s opener against Wales on 4 February with a potential title-decider against France taking place a week later in Dublin.
Sexton’s absence at the beginning of the championship would be a blow for Ireland who will be seeking to cement their status as the world’s No 1 side with a first title since 2018.
Sexton sustained the injury in a nasty collision with Connacht’s Jarrad Butler, for which he received a yellow card, in Leinster’s URC victory on Sunday. It was the fly-half’s first start for his province since October and he managed one autumn internationals appearance for Ireland after he was a last-minute withdrawal from the victory over Australia. He remains a crucial fixture in the side, however, having masterminded Ireland’s historic series victory in New Zealand last summer.
Andy Farrell’s options at fly-half beyond Sexton include Munster’s Joey Carbery and Jack Crowley as well as Leinster’s Ross Byrne, all of whom featured for Ireland during the autumn.
“Sexton suffered a cheekbone injury during the game against Connacht Rugby and will have a procedure today and will be further assessed then,” Leinster said as they confirmed his unavailability for Saturday’s away fixture against the Ospreys.
Meanwhile, the South Africa captain, Siya Kolisi, has agreed a lucrative deal to join Racing 92 in France’s Top 14 after the World Cup this year. Kolisi, who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in Japan in 2019, has been granted early release from his contract with the Sharks and has agreed a multi-year deal with the Paris club.
“It has been an incredible collaborative effort between the Sharks and Racing 92 that has enabled me to start a new chapter in my career after the 2023 World Cup,” said Kolisi.
