Jonathan Sexton is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Leinster Rugby and Ireland, and also captains both teams. He also previously represented the British and Irish Lions in both 2013 and 2017 and has scored over 700 points in his international career, making him one of the highest points-scorers in rugby union history.
Sexton became the 106th player to captain Ireland when he led the team out at their 2019 Rugby World Cup 3rd Pool A group match at the Kobe Misaki Stadium in Japan on Thursday 3 October 2019. He was officially named captain for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.
Sexton was born in Rathgar, Dublin, but has family ties to North Kerry and West Clare; he is a nephew of former Garryowen, Munster and Ireland rugby player William Sexton. He attended St Mary's College, Dublin and scored a drop goal in the dying moments of the school's 2002 Leinster Senior Schools Cup final win. His performances at St. Mary's led to Sexton being selected for Leinster. He made his debut against the Border Reivers in 2006.
Sexton holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin.
Sexton was selected as part of the Ireland squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship, but sustained a fractured thumb shortly beforehand playing for Leinster.
Sexton was selected to play for Ireland A in the 2009 Churchill Cup. Ireland A won the tournament, beating England Saxons 49–22 in the final with Sexton scoring 15 points despite being sin-binned.
Sexton won his first cap for Ireland in the Test against Fiji at the RDS in Dublin on 21 November 2009 scoring 16 points, kicking seven from seven in extremely difficult weather conditions and winning man of the match with his impressive International debut.
On 24 November 2009, Sexton was selected ahead of veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara in Ireland's autumn international against World Cup champions South Africa at Croke Park. He kicked all of Ireland's 15 points and, after the match, it was revealed that Sexton had played out Ireland's thrilling 15–10 victory with a broken hand.
Sexton returned to the Ireland squad for the 2010 Six Nations; he came on as a substitute in Ireland's loss against France. He was selected for his first Six Nations start in the match against England at Twickenham on 27 February 2010. Ireland won the game 20–16, with Sexton being replaced by Ronan O'Gara late in the game. Sexton started against Wales and Scotland, being replaced by O'Gara in both games towards the end. Over the Six Nations, his kicking success rate was much lower than in his first few tests, as he missed several kicks.
Sexton was named in Ireland's squad for the 2010 Summer Tests, coming off the bench to replace O'Gara against New Zealand. He started against New Zealand Maori and kicked 23 points, and started against Australia, kicking all of Ireland's 15 points in the game.
Sexton then went on to play in further matches against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina; he scored 34 points in those tests. Then he had to prepare for the 2011 Six Nations Championship. He played the first game in the win against Italy, being replaced by Ronan O'Gara, who scored the winning drop goal. Sexton next started in the 22–25 defeat against France but he was then dropped to the bench against Scotland because of O'Gara's leading form. He was also on the bench against Wales. Against England, though, Sexton started and kicked 14 of the points in a 24–8 win. Sexton was named RBS Six Nations Man of the Match following his role in Ireland's successful attempt to stop England's hunt for a Grand Slam that year.
Sexton started Ireland's first two pool matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and came off the bench in their last two pool matches. He came off the bench in a 10–22 defeat against Wales.
Sexton was arguably Ireland's most influential player in their 2014 Six Nations win and was the joint highest try scorer in the championship with four tries. In the final match against France in Paris he scored two tries and scored 17 of the team's 22 points on their way to winning the match and with it the 2014 RBS Six Nations Championship. Despite worries of a thumb injury hindering his participation midway through the competition, Sexton competed in every game, losing only one to England at Twickenham.
Sexton started all five 2016 Six Nations matches. He scored 11 points (three penalties and a conversion) in a 16–16 draw with Wales. In the second match he scored all of Ireland's points in a 9–10 defeat to France. In the third match he scored three points in a 10–21 defeat to England. In the penultimate match of the tournament he scored nine points (a penalty and three conversions) in a 58–15 win against Italy. In the last match of the tournament he scored 15 points (three penalties and three conversions) against Scotland. Despite Sexton's getting sin binned in the 76th minute for a maul infringement, Ireland won 35–25.
On 2 June, Sexton was ruled out of the 2016 tour of South Africa after he sustained a shoulder injury in the Pro12 Grand Final. Sexton started the 2016 end of year international against New Zealand in Chicago. He scored two penalties and two conversions in a 40–29 win. Sexton missed the first two matches of the 2017 Six Nations but started the last three matches of the tournament.
In Ireland's opening 2018 Six Nations Championship fixture against France on 3 February 2018, Sexton scored an 83rd minute drop-goal after 41 phases to give Ireland a 15–13 away victory.
Ireland went on to win the Grand Slam, the third in their history, with Sexton being a key player starting all 5 games, contributing 44 total points. He was later one of six nominees for 2018 Six Nations Player of the Tournament. The award went to fellow Ireland player, Jacob Stockdale.
Later that season, Sexton led Ireland to its first series win in Australia since 1979. Starting both wins and contributing 31 total points. He finished the 2017–2018 season undefeated as a starter for Ireland.
Sexton became the 106th player to captain Ireland when he led the team out at their 2019 Rugby World Cup 3rd Pool A Group match at the Kobe Misaki Stadium in Japan on Thursday 3 October 2019.
On 15 January 2020, Sexton was named as the new captain for the team ahead of the 2020 Six Nations, replacing now retired Rory Best.
As a result of his performances for club and country, Sexton was selected to play for the 2013 British and Irish Lions in their tour to Australia. He played in all three of the tests, scoring one try.
Sexton was then selected for the 2017 Lions tour of New Zealand. Sexton came off the bench for the first test against New Zealand. He started the second and third tests, despite suffering a broken wrist in the second test. Despite the broken wrist and a rupture to his ankle tendon sustained during the first half, Sexton played 73 minutes of the third test before being replaced by Ben Te'o.
