Ireland’s greatest ever player played against world’s best rugby team with broken wrist and ruptured tendon in epic series
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Johnny Sexton will be joining the British & Irish Lions down under as a coach and there are few better players who exemplify a Lion mentality.
That's because in 2017 he somehow played the final Lions Test with a fractured wrist and ruptured ankle tendon.
Talk about commitment to the team.
Sexton, who is among Ireland’s greatest ever rugby players, had damaged his right wrist in the second Test during the tour of New Zealand, but strapped it up and played the series decider a week later.
The fly-half then went on to rupture his ankle tendon during that final match and again played on until the 73rd minute. He helped the Lions to a 15-15 draw to tie the series 1-1.
Scans later revealed he had fractured his wrist, but thankfully his ankle did not need surgery.
Sexton played six times for the Lions across two tours between 2013 and 2017.
He later went on to retire from professional rugby, having played 118 times for Ireland, after the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in Paris.
Since retiring, Sexton has been working as a part-time commercial manager with the packaging company Ardagh Group.
"I've got a full-time job,” he told talkSPORT last October. “We're rugby players, not like you boys [Alan Brazil and Gabby Agbonlahor] putting our feet up.
"It's with a packaging company on the commercial side of that. It's been eye-opening and a massive transition.
"I've been enjoying it. Doing something new and put myself in that environment and challenge myself.
"It's a routine, that's what I'm used to. How do I get my gym in, my few rounds of golf a month, I play in a seven-a-side soccer team too. We have a game a week and have a few pints after.
"That's special because it's being part of a team again. You find ways to adapt.
"I played until I was 38, but you have to move on and not feel sorry for yourself. I played with guys who retired when they were 26 with a career-ending knee injury and had their best years ahead.
"I am very grateful for the time I had."
The lure of rugby has brought him back to the sport, though, as he will be part of Andy Farrell's coaching staff for the Lions Tour, who select the squad on 8 May before the first warm-up match on 20 June.
Then in August he will take up a full-time coaching role with Ireland.
"I am hugely excited to continue the next chapter in my coaching journey with The British & Irish Lions and I would like to thank Andy for this incredible opportunity," he said.
"It promises to be an exciting tour to Australia and I know from experience the challenges that await us.
"Playing for the Lions was a huge ambition of mine during my playing career and my memories of those Tours to Australia and New Zealand will stay with me forever."
Listen to live and exclusive coverage of the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia on talkSPORT, with an all-star line up featuring Eddie Jones, Gordon D'Arcy, Alex Cuthbert, Jim Hamilton, Rocky Clark and Aussie Matt Giteau.
