Sexton’s boots from historic 100th cap raffled for charity

A woman who won rugby star Johnny Sexton’s boots in a raffle has said they are too special to allow anyone to wear them.

The Ireland international parted with the boots he wore during his historic 100th cap – last November’s 60-5 win over Japan – to raise funds for Debra Ireland, a charity he has supported for more than a decade.

Nuala Quinlan (58) from Dunkerrin in Co Offaly, won the Leinster star’s size 9.5 Adidas Predators – and he handed them over in person at Leinster Rugby’s UCD base.

“I have such admiration for Johnny and I feel so lucky to have won these special boots, so I won’t be letting anyone wear them!” said the mother of two, who emigrated to Munich, Germany, in the early 1990s.

“Winning them was the last thing I expected. I just thought it was a wonderful gesture from Johnny, especially as they were so special to him, featuring the initials of his kids and his wife.

“My initial thought was to put them into a glass box but I know for certain I’ll be hanging onto them for a while.

“All my family are big GAA fans, especially of Tipperary hurling. While they watch the big rugby matches, they wouldn’t be huge fans.”

Ms Quinlan, who works in the European Patent Office, brought the treasured boots to an Irish bar for Leinster’s European Champions Cup Final against La Rochelle last Saturday – but even they could not prevent a defeat for Sexton and his team.

The raffle raised €24,000, which will help Debra Ireland support people living with the skin disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and their families – as well as funding research to find treatments.

The skin of patients with EB blisters at the slightest touch, meaning painful bandaging must be applied at least every 48 hours.

Sexton (36) said he hoped the boots