A decade ago Irish rugby was hit with the bombshell that Johnny Sexton was departing Leinster for pastures new.
After seven years at Leinster where he won multiple league and European titles, the then 27-year-old joined Racing 92. Months of negotiations with the IRFU bore no fruit, and Sexton eventually put pen to paper with the Parisian club on a deal that would see him earn a rumoured €700,000 per annum.
Understandably, Leinster fans were devastated. Irish fans in general were also worried. By 2013, the IRFU were adopting a policy that frowned upon non-domestic based players featuring for the National team. An exception was of course made for Sexton (Simon Zebo wasn’t so lucky), and he continued to star for Ireland as Joe Schmidt’s side won back to back Six Nations titles in 2014 and 2015.
