I am one of Ireland's greatest ever players – now I work for a packaging company

10/09/2024 10:56 AM

Few in Irish rugby, if any, can hold a candle to Johnny Sexton’s lengthy list of achievements.

He was the second Irishman to be named the World Rugby Player of the Year, won the Six Nations five times and achieved the Grand Slam on three occasions.

Sexton, who won 118 caps for Ireland until his retirement after last year’s Rugby World Cup, was also a standout for Leinster and helped the club win four European Rugby Champions Cups.

Safe to say, Sexton did it all except win an elusive Webb Ellis Cup.

When players of his ilk retire, it’s rarely a surprise to see them instantly pop up on a punditry panel or go straight into coaching.

Instead, Sexton opted for a different path and, much like his glittering career as a player, the new gig is all about ‘challenging’ himself.

“I’ve got a full-time job,” Sexton told Alan Brazil and Gabriel Agbonlahor on talkSPORT.

“We’re rugby players. We’re not like you boys, get to put our feet up. We don’t earn the money you guys do.

“It’s a packaging company. I’m on the commercial side of that. It’s been eye-opening. A lot of learning, a massive transition. But I’m enjoying it as well.

“I’m enjoying trying to do something new and try to make myself in that environment and really challenge myself. It’s challenging.”

According to Sexton’s LinkedIn, he is the Chief of Staff for Ardagh Group, a global supplier of sustainable and infinitely recyclable packaging for brands across the world.

He began part-time work with the company in April 2021 while he was still playing, but has taken on more work since he hung up the boots.

However, that’s not to say retirement has been easy to embrace.

Although Sexton knew his career would end after the Rugby World Cup, nothing could prepare him for the drastic change in his day-to-day life.

‘It’s very tough, isn’t it?” Sexton said.

“It’s a massive transition. I’ve heard the phrase, ‘sports people die twice’, once when their career finishes and then obviously when it comes to the end.

“It was a tough time. It was a very surreal time because you’ve feared this moment for such a long time, and then it was there. It was a bit like, you’re on your own. Everyone’s off doing work or all of your ex-teammates are going to training. You’re going, ‘What am I going to do with myself?’

“I had two-and-a-half months before I started a new job. But those two-and-a-half months were probably the toughest because you have no structure to your life, no routine, you don’t really know what to do with yourself. You can only play so much golf.”

The lack of routine is often one of the biggest shocks mentioned by athletes once they retire, with Agbonlahor noting just as much.

But with his new role coupled with some other things he’s picked up to help pass the time, Sexton has settled into a nice post-rugby rhythm.

“I have a routine,” Sexton said.

“That’s the thing I was used to. How do I get my gym in? How do I get my few rounds of golf in.

“I play in a seven-a-side soccer team, we play one game a week and go out for a few pints after. That’s special because you’re a part of a team again. You find ways to adapt and become happy in what you’re doing.”

Sexton appeared on talkSPORT to promote his upcoming autobiography, ‘Obsessed’, due to be released on Thursday.

The process of sharing his story was one the 39-year-old found difficult, but felt fans will enjoy learning about his career and plenty of behind-the-scenes tales that have never been told before.

“It’s just a story of my career, of my life, really,” Sexton said.

“It was tough to do in many ways because you have to have some difficult conversations and talk about some difficult things.

“But it’s good, hopefully people will like it.”