Sexton confirms that French big three all contacted him

Former Leinster outhalf Jonathan Sexton has confirmed that he was contacted by Clermont, Toulon and Toulouse before signing for Racing Metro.

Sexton arrived in France last Wednesday and is due to be officially unveiled by the Paris club at a press conference next week.

‘I didn’t know Racing,” Sexton told Le Parisien. “They contacted me just like Toulouse, Clermont and Toulon did. But this club really gave me that the impression that I counted for them.

“They advised me to come here, saying they have a very ambitious team. I met the new coaches and I like them. Then I learned that (Jamie) Roberts and (Dan) Lydiate were coming too and that reinforced my choice.”

The Irish international, who is thought to be earning €700,000 per year from his two season-deal at Racing, said that finance wasn’t the only concern when he decided to leave Dublin.

“Of course money was one of the reasons that made me come here but it wasn’t the only one. I’m going to give everything for Racing and I’m very proud to wear their colours.

“I have a lot of things to prove on the pitch. If people see my involvement, they’ll know that I’m not only here for the money.”

Sexton and his wife Laura have set up home in the southwestern suburbs of Paris and, according to Le Parisien, he tried to carry out his first interview on French soil in the local language. Sexton told the paper that he started taking French lessons when was out injured last season.

The 28-year-old's first competitive match for his new club will be against Brive in La Rochelle on August 17th. The three-time Heineken Cup winner believes that Racing have the talent to win both the French Top 14 and the main European competition.

“Maybe,” he said. “Why not? We have the players, the staff and the infrastructure to do it. It’s possible”