Racing concessions secure Sexton's signature

Rugby:Additional guarantees regarding his release for international duty have reputedly enabled Jonathan Sexton to complete his proposed two-year deal with Racing Metro, which the player is believed to have signed today (Saturday).

Indications that the 27-year-old would be playing his club rugby with Racing Metro from next August have been strengthened after sources revealed the Leinster and Ireland outhalf signed a contract with Racing Metro this afternoon, committing himself to a lucrative two-year deal with the Parisian club.

The delay in signing the deal was due to Sexton and his agent Fintan Drury insisting on extra release days, over and above IRB regulations, for duty with Ireland - which they apparently achieved.

Sexton is due to be married after the Lions tour in July and the player himself expects to relocate to Paris later that month ahead of the start of the Top 14 season in mid-August.

The news follows the IRFU’s announcement on Friday that Sexton had informed them he would not be accepting their offer of a two-year deal believed to be in region of €500,000 per annum.

French clubs are not allowed to announce new signings before April 15th, although they are permitted to sign players before then.

In the French media, Racing are widely reported to have signed the Welsh pair of Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate, as well as Northampton props Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati and South African lock Juande Kruger, not to mention the Castres coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers.

Yet, curiously, even in the light of the disclosure that Sexton had signed a deal today, sources very close to the Parisian club maintained the deal was not complete.

Nonetheless, the odds on Sexton donning the famed light blue and white hoops next season appear to have shortened, even if absolute confirmation might have to wait until April 15th.