Ex-Ireland star Johnny Sexton insists that Rieko Ioane has a \u201cbig responsibility\u201d when he joins up with the team on a six-month deal.<\/b><\/p>\n
Like Jordie Barrett before him, the New Zealand international decided to take his sabbatical with the Irish province and will remain in Dublin for the rest of the 2025\/26 northern hemisphere season.<\/p>\n
It was certainly a controversial move considering his rather strained relationship with Ireland<\/a> and one of their favourite sons, Leinster<\/a> legend Sexton.<\/a><\/p>\n How the feud started<\/p>\n That all kicked off following the Rugby World Cup quarter-final between the countries, which the All Blacks won 28-24.<\/p>\n Ioane<\/a> made a comments towards the retiring playmaker after the game, prompting Sexton to clap back before the former fly-half detailed his side of the story in his autobiography almost a year later.<\/p>\n That escalated the feud with the New Zealander doubling down, leading to some boos when the All Blacks took on the Irish at the Aviva Stadium later in 2024.<\/p>\n Since the deal was announced Sexton has not said too much, but he did comment on what is expected of the centre.<\/p>\n The 40-year-old said that all his predecessors have been \u201cgood people\u201d, a rather pointed statement which acts as a warning to Ioane.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the biggest influences on Leinster has been foreign players, getting the right people in, and the right players, but first and foremost, good people,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you consider the people that we\u2019ve had over the years like Isa Nacewa\u2026 I can only speak about me, but the impact he had on me personally\u2026 Brad Thorn. The impact they\u2019ve had on the environment and the values and all those type of things [has been] massive.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I hear, Jordie Barrett the exact same. Yeah, it\u2019s a big responsibility he\u2019s got, and he\u2019s got to follow some pretty special people and characters before him. But look, I\u2019ve nothing to do with Leinster anymore, really. It\u2019s nothing to do with me.\u201d<\/p>\n