Johnny Sexton to miss Champions Cup clash with Leinster, likely to miss remainder of season ahead of World Cup

Retiring Ireland legend Johnny Sexton is “likely” to miss the remainder of the season with Leinster through injury.

Sexton, who captained Ireland to a historic Six Nations Grand Slam victory this year, limped out of the decisive match against England in Dublin with a groin complaint.

Ahead of Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup match against Ulster, head coach Leo Cullen issued an update on the player’s condition.

A statement on the club’s website wrote: “Johnny Sexton will see a specialist on Tuesday and have a procedure on the groin injury picked up in Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations game against England which will likely keep him sidelined for the remainder of the Leinster Rugby season.”

The 37-year-old fly-half had announced he will be hanging up his boots following the World Cup in France this autumn.

Sexton’s decorated career has seen him play a part in four Champions Cup wins with Leinster, and four Six Nations crowns for his country.

A penalty in the 29-16 win over England saw him become the all-time Six Nations record points scorer with 560 points, surpassing the record of Ronan O’Gara.

Aside from sitting out the last-16 Champions Cup clash with Leinster, Sexton is also set to miss the remainder of the United Rugby Championship, where his side are runaway leaders.

Ireland’s World Cup campaign sees them in Pool B, alongside South Africa, Scotland, Tonga and Romania.

They kick off their tournament against Romania on September 9 in Bordeaux.