[jimmybeige]

JONATHAN SEXTON could be on his way to Stade Francais, with talks taking place between the wealthy French club and representatives of the Ireland out-half regarding a move to Paris after next year's World Cup.

Stade Francais coach Michael Cheika is a huge admirer of Sexton, having brought the 25-year-old through at Leinster during his five-year, Heineken Cup-winning spell with the Irish province.

Sexton has become first-choice out-half for Ireland under Declan Kidney and is out of contract at the end of the season. Although negotiations have taken place, a deal has yet to be signed.

The IRFU are struggling to match the financial clout of French clubs, who are also understood to be in pursuit of other Ireland stars such as Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Tony Buckley.

Sexton helped secure a bonus point for an injury-ravaged Leinster side in Sunday's 20-13 Heineken Cup defeat away to Clermont, whose financial muscle is believed to have secured the big-name signings of Lee Byrne, Regan King, Benjamin Kayser and All Blacks prop Neemia Tialata for next season.

With widespread player movement a certainty after the World Cup (New Zealand centre Ma'a Nonu is in line for a switch to Munster), the IRFU face a tough fight to hold on to their out-of-contract players, who also include Connacht hooker Sean Cronin and Ulster winger Andrew Trimble.

The English union recently announced that they would not allow players earning a living abroad to play for the national side, as they seek to stem the flow of England internationals to wealthy French clubs.

Meanwhile, Munster are likely to discover today the potential disciplinary fall-out from Sunday's contentious Thomond Park 22-16 win against the Ospreys.

Paul O'Connell faces an automatic disciplinary hearing this week following his red card; ERC regulations point out that "the case of any player sent off shall be adjudicated upon by an independent disciplinary committee".

O'Connell, who has only recently returned to action after a lengthy injury absence, is flirting with a suspension that could force him to miss the opening game of the Six Nations against Italy.

However, as the referee already dealt with the incident, mitigating circumstances and O'Connell's relatively clean disciplinary record could lead to the ban being skimmed to anything between two and five weeks, ruling him out of one or two Heineken Cup clashes.

There may also be cases to answer for other Munster players, with Denis Leamy and Damien Varley sweating on the outcome of the citing commissioner's review of the match video.

Pretty bad for Leinster and Ireland if he went. Not sure Stade did a huge amount for the development of Beauxis and Hernandez.

[bamboozle]

generally i'd put this down as a bargaining ploy, but for some reason i can see Sexton wanting to play abroad.

sooner IRFU come out and say they'll only play home based players the better, otherwise there will be a haemorrage of players from the provinces overseas.

i can see sexton earning 500k plus in france while he'd probably be on around 200k pa here. if Hook is attracting offers of £750k PA then Heaslip should be able to command at least that. Worrying times for the provinces.

[Hippo]

I'd still have this down as a bargaining ploy, but maybe I'm just being overoptimistic. French poster on LF.com was hinting that SF's finances are not all that wonderful this year.

[phog]

That's 3 outhalfs that SF are supposed to be headhunting, Contepomi, Warwick and Sexton. I guess it's a ploy for more money here and there's nothing wrong with that.

[death1234567]

Originally Posted by bamboozle

sooner IRFU come out and say they'll only play home based players the better, otherwise there will be a haemorrage of players from the provinces overseas.

I think there could be a haemorrage of players leaving the provinces anyway. Their careers are short and if they can double their money by leaving to play in France then you cant blame them for going. Even if it means they won't be able to play international rugby. The same thing is happening to the English players, eg. Wilkinson staying with toulon.

[buck65]

If a guy chooses to ply his trade abroad surely this shouldn't reflect on his international career. Didn't seem to harm the development of Wood, Reddan, G Murphy, J Murphy, Bowe. Sure the provinces may lose one or two of their stars for a few years but there are plenty in the provinces looking to come through as well. I don't think I have ever seen so many promising under 23 ish players around, for all these guys to be accomodated in the future the IRFU are going to have to let a few of the bigger earners go.
Dropping them from the Irish team is daft.

[calvin_zola]

it'd be a good move for him, he would be playing in a great rugby nation and it can only improve his game

[danthefan]

Originally Posted by Hippo

I'd still have this down as a bargaining ploy, but maybe I'm just being overoptimistic. French poster on LF.com was hinting that SF's finances are not all that wonderful this year.

Cheika said it himself the other night, interviewed on Newstalk.

Originally Posted by calvin_zola

it'd be a good move for him, he would be playing in a great rugby nation and it can only improve his game

How does moving to a much worse team improve his game?

[Jabba]

Originally Posted by buck65

If a guy chooses to ply his trade abroad surely this shouldn't reflect on his international career.

Its not really that. Stade Francais are crap and it would be a climb down in standard for Sexton. They are floating around the 9 or 10 spot on the Top14 table with some glaring losses.

I'm surprised Toulouse arent looking for an outhalf come to think of it.

[bamboozle]

Originally Posted by buck65

If a guy chooses to ply his trade abroad surely this shouldn't reflect on his international career. Didn't seem to harm the development of Wood, Reddan, G Murphy, J Murphy, Bowe. Sure the provinces may lose one or two of their stars for a few years but there are plenty in the provinces looking to come through as well. I don't think I have ever seen so many promising under 23 ish players around, for all these guys to be accomodated in the future the IRFU are going to have to let a few of the bigger earners go.
Dropping them from the Irish team is daft.

Given the french clubs wouldnt release players for international duty except during IRB approved windows i would imagine the development of players within the international squad would be seriously damaged,
Ireland have benefitted greatly by having the majority of players home based where their schedules could be facilitated by both province and country.
for the first time each of Munster, Leinster and Ulster's academy's are each producing top quality players, within the right structure we can continue to punch above our weight internationally. A mass exedous of players will only weaken our provinces which will in turn see a loss of interest in kids playing the game and bums on seats for provincial & international games.

[JustinDee]

Isn't the rumour mill great fun . . .

[jimmybeige]

Not really just rumours. That is from the Independent and said on the radio this morning that they have held talks. It could be Sexton just trying to bump up his contract similar to how BOD did with Biarritz a few years ago, but it doesn't seem like soccer style unfounded rumours.

[JustinDee]

Originally Posted by jimmybeige

Not really just rumours. That is from the Independent and said on the radio this morning that they have held talks

Exactly.
Rumours.

[danthefan]

Seems all this has come from a article in the Telegraph at the weekend, which was more about how Irish players are out of contract after the RWC. The Indo seem to have jumped on it, they do love a sensational headline.

[Trojan]

Stade won't stay a bad side. Too much money and high profile. And hiring a 10 who has worked for years with their manager will help.

Whatever about Sexton, IRFU doesn't deserve to keep Connacht lads like Cronin, Fionn Carr if he's out of contract, etc.