STATEMENT: Johnny Sexton misconduct hearing finished

The 38-year-old Leinster player appeared before a panel to address "misconduct complaints" arising from his actions following the Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle in May.

Although Sexton was sidelined due to injury and did not participate in the final on May 20, which La Rochelle won 27-26, he engaged in a verbal exchange with South African referee Jaco Peyper after the match concluded in Dublin.

If found guilty of misconduct, Sexton faces the possibility of a substantial suspension.

Sexton has already confirmed his retirement from this year's Rugby World Cup, where Ireland, considered strong contenders, will commence their campaign against Romania on September 9.

Ireland's upcoming World Cup warm-up matches are scheduled against Italy on 5 August, followed by matches against England and Samoa.

Their first World Cup game is set to take place on 9 September in Bordeaux against Romania. It is important to note that any potential suspension for Sexton could impact his availability for both the warm-up matches and the tournament itself.

The Johnny Sexton verdict will appear here as soon as it's available.

Thursday's disciplinary hearing was chaired by Christopher Quinlan KC with Adam Casselden SC and Marcello D'Orey also on the panel.

As much fun as it is to see the sport's most treasured icons succeed, audiences can sometimes take equal pleasure in seeing a star plummet from the heavens and fall to the depths below.

We've ran a poll to discover who, whether it be for their antics on or off the pitch, have developed an unenviable reputation in the game.

Find out the top five below.

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Believe me, I’m as shocked as you are that Lavinini managed to find his way into this list considering the stand-up player that he is (sarcastic).

Being serious, he is one of the most entertaining rugby players to watch because of his reckless and aggressive behaviour

White has become arguably the most unpopular player in world rugby over the past 12 months..

Last year, White fell about like a lion had attempted to rip off his face after Faf de Klerk accidentally made contact with it while attempting to dislodge the ball out of his hands as he attempted a pass.

After consulting with the television match official, referee Paul Williams adjudicated that this warranted a yellow card for de Klerk.

This decision sent the world of rugby into meltdown, with criticism coming from all quarters aimed at White for bringing the game into disrepute.

Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.

The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career.

It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.

Biggar has twice been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions (2017 & 2021)

On 7 December 2015, Biggar won the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year Award

Biggar came through the Ospreys development pathway, having attended Gowerton Comprehensive School in Swansea

The fly-half has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call “The Biggarena” after Los Del Rio’s 1995 hit, Macarena

The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.

Etzebeth may be 6ft 8in and more than 19st (2.03m/123kg) now but he did not dominate rugby in his early school days, leaving his growing until later in his teens

In 2016, aged 24, Etzebeth became the youngest player to play 50 Tests for the Springboks in the game against Australia at Brisbane

The lock was voted South African Young Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013, and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2013 when the award was won by New Zealand’s Kieran Read.

Etzebeth’s biceps have a circumference of 19 inches… 48.26cm.

In 2017, Etzebeth became the 59th player to captain the Springboks in a Test match when he led the side in the match against France at Ellis Park

The expert in unsportsmanlike behavior. Sexton is skilled in exaggerating contact or distracting officials, knowing precisely when to employ his repertoire of underhanded tactics.

His most recent example of on-field nouse came against Wales just last weekend. The yellow card handed to Liam Williams in the 65th minute for a high hit on Sexton took a while to come as it was reviewed from multiple angles by the officials.

Wales fans piled in on Sexton after the Williams sin-binning, with one writing: 'Sexton play acted a head injury. Blatant cheating.'

Another Wales fan vented: 'That Liam Williams yellow card shows why rugby will be dead in a few years – nothing wrong with Liams body shape and Sexton play acting sums up how rugby has drastically changed for the worse. It’s a mockery to the real injuries.'

Another commented on Sexton being seen winking after the card, and said that his behaviour would "destroy the spectacle that is International rugby"