All four of the Irish players removed last weekend due to concussion worries look likely to miss out on league action with their clubs
Racing Métro have left Ireland out-half Jonathan Sexton out of their match squad for Saturday’s Top 14 encounter with Castres Olympique. The Parisian club named a 27-man squad, which will be pared down in Friday’s team announcement, this afternoon.
Sexton, who shipped a blow to the head when tackling Adam Ashley Cooper during Ireland’s 26-23 win, will be spared the match at Stade Antoine. Former Munster centre Casey Laulala, however, is named in Racing’s backs.
Sexton addressed the issue of his third head-knock in 2014 on Monday as he appeared at a promotional event for Aer Lingus. He said, ‘It’s not something I’m worried about personally. It’s not like I’m getting knocked out or anything like that or having memory loss. I’ve had one bad concussion in my life, maybe six or seven years ago. Obviously the one against France (in March) looked bad but sometimes you can just get caught on the chin.
‘I probably felt okay the next day, that night, so it’s not something I’m worried about personally. I think they’re looking after players more and the public is becoming more aware as well and it’s being written about more. People are more aware of it and it leads to more interest on the subject. As players we’re concerned about the effects it might have if you have lots of bad ones but I’m okay.’
Munster have yet to issue a further update on Conor Murray other than to say, on Monday, that the scrum-half was following return-to-play protocols. Murray left the Aviva Stadium pitch with suspected concussion but returned to finish out the game.
Leinster are due to issue an update on concussion worries Rob Kearney and Gordon D’Arcy on Friday afternoon.
