Johnny Sexton: Ireland captain free to play at World Cup after receiving three-match ban
The 38-year-old Leinster fly-half will miss the warm-up fixtures against Italy, England and Samoa after admitting a European Professional Club Rugby misconduct charge levelled in the wake of the provinceโs Heineken Champions Cup final defeat by La Rochelle on May 20.
Sexton, who was not playing in the game, went on to the pitch at the Aviva Stadium after the match – Leinster lost 27-26 – and became involved in what appeared to be a heated exchange with South African referee Jaco Peyper and other match officials.
A statement issued on behalf of the independent disciplinary commission, which met last week, said: โWith the consent of the parties, the independent disciplinary committee (comprising Christopher Quinlan KC, chair, (World Rugby independent judicial panel chair), Adam Casselden SC (former chair SANZAAR judicial committee) and Marcello DโOrey (former international rugby player) announced its decision and full written reasons today in respect of the misconduct case brought against Johnny Sexton and Leinster Rugby.
โJohnny Sexton admitted misconduct. The disciplinary committee found his behaviour confrontational and aggressive towards and disrespectful of the match officials.
โIt included his pointing his finger at them and shouting at them something to this effect: โItโs a disgrace you guys canโt get the big decisions right,โ probably accompanied by expletives, โmost likely the f-wordโ.
โHis conduct was obviously unsportsmanlike and brought the sport of rugby union into disrepute.โ
Sexton has been suspended with immediate effect and will miss the games against Italy on August 5, England a fortnight later and Samoa on August 26.
However, he will be available for Irelandโs opening World Cup fixture against Romania in Bordeaux on September 9.
Leinster have also been handed a suspended ยฃ7,500 fine for failing to exercise reasonable control over their player, and both, as well as EPCR, have until 4pm on Wednesday to appeal against the independent disciplinary committee decision.
The statement continued: โThe disciplinary committee upheld the misconduct complaint against Leinster Rugby.
โHaving regard to the limited extent to which it was at fault and relevant mitigation, the disciplinary committee concluded that the appropriate penalty was a fine in the sum of ยฃ7,500, suspended until the end of the 2023/24 EPCR season.
โIf Leinster commits another act of Misconduct before the end of the 2023/24 EPCR season it must pay that sum in full.โ
Sexton, who led his country, ranked number one in the world, to a Six Nations Grand Slam in March, has signalled his intention to retire after this autumnโs tournament.
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