Legend Johnny Sexton rejected Ireland coaching role, he now has lucrative new career
Rugby NewsWednesday, 14 August 2024 at 20:35
Johnny Sexton, the former Ireland captain, retired from professional rugby following his team's elimination from the Rugby World Cup by New Zealand in a heart-wrenching 28-24 quarter-final loss last Autumn.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Remarkably, despite announcing his retirement from the sport in October, the 38-year-old has already secured employment beyond the world of rugby.
In fact, he has been holding a position at the same company for the past two years. Since April 2021, Sexton has been serving as a commercial manager for Ardagh Group, a supplier of glass and metal packaging based in Luxembourg.
The massive company employs 20,000 people across 63 facilities and boasts sales of over £7billion.
Although there have been rumours of him potentially returning to the Irish rugby scene as a coach, Sexton is fully committed to his new role.
Before the World Cup, Sexton had dedicated one day a week to the group, but it is now anticipated that he will assume a more significant role.
In addition to his corporate career, he is also the proprietor of his own management company, JAS Management and Promotions Ltd, which posted profits of £2.431 million in 2022—an increase of nearly £305,000 compared to the previous year's earnings.
Confirming his retirement from rugby after the World Cup, Sexton said: "Retirement is never an easy next step for any professional athlete. It is especially hard after the rollercoaster of emotions from the last few weeks in France.
"The sadness and frustration we couldn’t progress further remain, they will for a long time to come but the overarching feeling is the pride I felt playing with such a committed and talented group of players.
"The best group I have been lucky enough to be a part of……on and off the pitch. Leaving these players and these coaches is what is making retirement so tough.
"I want to thank my teammates, both for Leinster and Ireland, for everything they have given to me.
“The last season was one of the most enjoyable of my career and it makes it even more special to do so with people you care about, friends who will stay a part of my life in the future.
"Four years ago we sat down as a squad and spoke about what we wanted to achieve. Our main motivation and objective was to inspire the nation. I think we achieved that. We lost, but we won.”
Richest Rugby Players:
6. Owen Farrell (England) - £2.6m
The Farrell family currently resides in Hertfordshire, England, where they lead a private and family-oriented life, away from the glare of the public eye. While Georgie may choose to stay out of the limelight, her presence and support have undoubtedly played a significant role in Owen's success, both on and off the rugby field.
Their net worth is reported to be around £2.58m.
5. Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) - £11.6m
Despite his early exit from Toronto, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner still finds himself on the list. Starring in multiple sports; rugby league, rugby union and boxing, Williams has been in demand and has made good money down the years from numerous huge contracts.
Sonny Bill Facts:
- His actual full name is Sonny William Williams
- Williams's younger sister, Niall, is a New Zealand former international touch football captain and current New Zealand rugby sevens player
- He was only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league
- Williams is one of only 21 players to have won the Rugby World Cup twice
- He onverted to Islam in 2009, while in France playing for Toulon
4. Mike Tindall (England) - £15.7m
Married into the money. His wife, Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips, is the second-eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Mike Tindall Facts:
- Tindall is married to Zara Phillips, the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
- He is regarded as one of the best players to never wear the Lions jersey, However, he did play against them as part of a Barbarians XV in 2013.
- Tindall, whose nose was famously broken at least eight times during his rugby career, underwent a surgery in 2018 which fixed the fractures.
- Mike’s sometimes nickname is “The Fridge” due to his sizeable 6ft 2inch bulk.
- Every year since 2013, Mike has hosted an event called ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic, where several celebrities come together to raise money and awareness for disability groups and in aid of curing Parkinson’s disease
3) Jonny Wilkinson (England) - £16m
England's 2003 World Cup hero Wilkinson has a net worth of £16 million as of May 2014, according to the Sunday Times UK Rich List. He was utterly dedicated to his sport and remains a clean-living individual who has never attracted bad press.
2) Sir Bill Gammell (Scotland) - £38.7m
Gammell is a businessman and former Scottish International rugby player. A tall winger, he earned five caps, before following his father into business.
He has over 35 years’ experience in the international oil and gas industry and was awarded a knighthood in 2006 for services to industry in Scotland. Sir Bill, who is an ex-Scotland rugby internationalist (1977-1980) is Chairman of the Winning Scotland Foundation and Chairman of Genius Gluten Free. He was also an Independent Director of Glasgow 2014 Limited and a member of the British Olympic Advisory Board.
In 2006 he founded Winning Scotland Foundation to mobilise efforts to raise aspirations and self-belief amongst young people in Scotland. The Foundation's vision is ‘to help all young people in Scotland achieve their personal best’ and over £7 million has been invested to date.
1)Simon McDowell (Ireland) - £41.8 M
Retired Irish rugby player, Simon McDowell and family has a net worth of $54 million as of May 2012, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
A keen rugby player until injury forced him to hang up his boots in 1990, McDowell, 43, played for North Ireland Football Club from 1987 until 1990 before turning to refereeing, making his debut in 2002. McDowell was a referee at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
He spends 1,000 hours a year keeping fit for his on-field duties and also runs Kilwaughter Chemical Company. It started in 1939 as a quarry and mineral processor. In 1989 the company moved into mixing rendering products for concrete. The Co Antrim-based operation is owned by the McDowell family and made £4.1m profit on £18.1m sales.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading