Johnny Sexton 'good to go' for Six Nations opener in Wales

Johnny Sexton says he's on course to be fit for for the start of the Guinness Six Nations, and that he's already returned to elements of training following his cheekbone injury.

The Ireland captain had been a doubt in recent weeks after suffering a nasty cheekbone injury in Leinster's New Year's Day win against Connacht in the BKT United Rugby Championship, which required a surgical procedure.

However, the out-half returned to training last week with the aid of a protective mask, and says he's on course to train fully next week, ahead of Ireland's opener against Wales in Cardiff on 4 February.

He also admits he was relieved to find out his injury wasn't as bad as first feared.

"Of course, after the initial bang I was worried for what was ahead," he said at the launch of the 2023 Six Nations Championship.

"Thankfully it's probably the one bone in your face that you're happy to get knocked in. I’ll be back training fully next week. So all good to go.

"At the time the European games were at the forefront of my mind. When you figure out you're not going to be able to play in them, the Six Nations then [comes to mind]."

For the third year in a row Ireland and Wales meet on the opening weekend, and while they were comfortable 29-7 winners when the sides met last season, they've struggled in recent visits to Cardiff, losing each of their last four Six Nations games in the Welsh capital.

The tournament has also been shaken up with a pair of coaching changes, Steve Borthwick replacing Eddie Jones at England, but also Warren Gatland returning to Wales after Wayne Pivac was dismissed in December.

And Sexton says while he's played both for and against Gatland's teams a lot down the years, it still brings an element of uncertainty to the