Sexton regrets 'mistake' which led to summer suspension

Johnny Sexton admits he instantly regretted the heated exchange with referee Jaco Peyper which caused him to miss three Rugby World Cup warm-up matches through suspension.

Sexton was hit with a three-match ban for misconduct for his behaviour following Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle on May 20 in Dublin.

The 38-year-old, who did not play in that match due to injury and is set to retire after the upcoming tournament in France, says the incident was a "mistake in the heat of the moment".

He was on Sunday afternoon confirmed in Andy Farrell’s squad for the World Cup and is likely to make his return in his country’s Pool B opener on September 9 against Romania in Bordeaux.

Asked if he had any regrets about the on-field altercation with South African official Peyper at the Aviva Stadium, he said: "Of course, yeah. I’ve held my hands up since day one.

"I made a mistake in the heat of the moment.

"I was obviously very emotional on the day not being part of what I had mapped out from the start of the year as playing my last game for Leinster in the Aviva, winning a European cup.

"It’s what I dreamt of and then obviously to miss that, there’s a lot of emotion that goes with it and in that split second I went on to console my team-mates, I made a remark and I regretted it instantly.

"You make mistakes, you say sorry and hold your hands up and that’s what I’ve done."

Sexton was forced off by a groin injury while helping Ireland clinch the Six Nations Grand Slam against England in March and has not played competitively since.

He watched from the stands as Ireland maintained their unbeaten run against Italy, England and Samoa.

Without the suspension, the 29-10 success over Steve Borthwick’s side on August 19 would