The Irish out-half has not featured as prominently for the Parisians in his second season
Racing Métro have told us that Johnny Sexton will not feature in the club’s Champions Cup encounter with Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium this weekend.
Racing says Sexton is being rested for the first game of a double-header that could leave them on the verge of the knock-out stages if results go their way. A club spokesperson said, ‘Johnny has the week off, as does Teddy Thomas. Both will be available for the return game next week.’
Sexton was removed from the field on play with suspected concussion after 76 minutes of Ireland’s 26-23 win over Australia on November 22. He has followed all the World Rugby return to play protocols and met with a specialist in Paris upon his return, last week.
When queried about a possible concussion, the spokesperson stated that Sexton and Thomas, who made his Test debut for France last month, were not playing due to recent “workload”. Sexton missed six Top 14 games in September and October after fracturing his jaw against Toulon.
Sexton, who will return to Leinster next summer, has played four league games and two Champions League ties for the French side this season. He has played a total of 378 minutes – completing a game once, against Montpellier – and scored 45 points. During the Guinness Series, the out-half played 149 minutes over two matches and kicked 32 points.
Speaking on the Monday after Ireland’s victory against the Wallabies, Sexton pointed out the varying levels of concussions that can affect players. ‘You can get a bang on the head and be perfect a minute later (or) you can struggle for a couple of days,’ he said. ‘There are varying degrees… what the specialists is that even if they are small they have to be looked after; that’s the big improvement. Before the small ones were just brushed aside. Now they are looking after us better which is a great thing.
He added, ‘The doctors will ask you for your symptoms and it might just be the case where you rest for a couple of days and wait for things to calm down and then you’re good to go again; or it could be a few weeks.’
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