Johnny Sexton

A giant of Irish rugby, Johnny Sexton is one of the finest fly halves to ever play the game. He retired from rugby in 2023, with more than 100 international caps to his name. He also won numerous individual and team awards, including the World Rugby Player of the Year award, four European Rugby Champions Cups, six Pro14 titles and five Six Nations Championships, including three Grand Slams. 

Johnny Sexton’s long and illustrious professional rugby career began in 2006, when he made his first appearance for Leinster. Between then and 2023, he made almost 200 appearances for the Irish squad across two spells. During this time, he captured four European Rugby Champions Cups, one European Challenge Cup, six Pro 14 titles and two Irish Shields. 

In fact, Johnny Sexton represented Leinster for almost the entirety of his domestic career, barring a small stint in France where he represented Racing 92. 

Although he was a force on the domestic stage, Johnny Sexton saved his best performances for Ireland. Between 2009 and 2023, he represented his country 118 times. During this time, he captured five Six Nations Championships, including three Grand Slams. Alongside this, he also toured with the British and Irish Lions twice (2013 and 2017). 

Across his international career, Johnny Sexton firmly established himself as one of the finest fly halves to ever play the game. In 2018, he was voted as the World Rugby Player of the Year. He was also nominated for this award a further three times. 

A true giant of the game, Johnny Sexton retired in 2023 after Ireland were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup by New Zealand at the quarter-final stage.