Johnny Sexton feeling ‘great’ at 36 as he looks to extend Ireland career

Veteran Ireland captain Johnny Sexton intends to prolong his illustrious career for as long as he feels fit and wanted.

The 36-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, expects to discuss an extension with the Irish Rugby Football Union following the Guinness Six Nations.

Sexton has repeatedly batted away questions about retirement plans and regularly expressed a desire to lead his country into next year’s World Cup in France.

The influential Leinster fly-half described his physical condition as “great”, while insisting his sole focus is Saturday’s sold-out Six Nations opener against Wales in Dublin.

“We will probably sit down at the end of the Six Nations, I would say that was always the plan,” Sexton said of contact talks with the IRFU.

“That was always what Leinster would have expected.

“At this age, you’ve got to wait for as long as possible because I feel great now – I’ve felt great the last couple of weeks training and at the start of the season – but you know that can change.

“My intention is to keep going as long as I’m fit to do so and as long as I’m enjoying it and as long as the people in here want me to, that’s the most important thing for me.

“It couldn’t be further from my thoughts at the moment because this first game is everything and the other stuff looks after itself once you get the day job right.”

Sexton is preparing to captain Ireland for the third successive championship after succeeding the retired Rory Best following the 2019 World Cup.

The 2018 world player of the year reached 100 Test caps in the green jersey during the autumn and recently returned to club action following injury and a coronavirus infection.

Six Nations fixtures

Sexton is enjoying the responsibility bestowed