Johnny Sexton Responds to Outcry Over Autobiographical Revelations

Ireland rugby legend Johnny Sexton has recently addressed the controversy surrounding excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, “Obsessed,” that have been circulating in the media. The passages in question regard a heated exchange with New Zealand‘s Rieko Ioane following Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final loss to the All Blacks.

In the game that ended Sexton’s illustrious career, the Irish team was narrowly defeated 28-24 by New Zealand. In the immediate aftermath, Sexton was seen in a confrontation with Ioane, an incident he elaborated on in his book. Sexton wrote about his dismay at the All Blacks’ player behavior, stating, “And as I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at [referee Wayne] Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, ‘Get back ten metres.’… And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c***.’”

Sexton’s comments stirred reactions, particularly in New Zealand, leading Ioane to respond indirectly on social media. Ioane posted a picture featuring himself and Sexton on Instagram, overlaying the image with The Cranberries’ song “Zombie,” which was widely interpreted as a taunt aimed at Sexton.

In a recent appearance on BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly, Sexton expressed his surprise at the backlash the excerpt had received, stating, “I was a bit shocked by the reaction to that because I toyed with taking it out, putting it in, but the reason I put it in was not giving out like, this is just what happened.” He emphasized that the intent was to offer context to his own emotional reaction following the game.

Sexton further noted, “A certain part of me was just trying to protect because I got criticised after the game for my reaction because people thought, ‘Oh, here’s your man being a sore loser again.’ But they didn’t see what set me off. It was just me explaining why.”

The incident has reignited discussion around player conduct and sportsmanship, drawing attention well beyond the rugby community. The autobiography’s revelations and the ensuing dialogue serve as a stark reminder of the intense emotions that accompany international competition at the highest levels. Sexton’s book “Obsessed” is set to be released on October 10.