Leinster confirm 10 departing players including Johnny Sexton : PlanetRugby

Leinster have confirmed that 10 players will be leaving the club at the end of the season, including captain Johnny Sexton who is set to retire.

Sexton played 189 times for Leinster during his two stints at the side since 2006.

The fly-half won four Champions Cup titles with the side as well as six PRO14 titles and a Challenge Cup.

He is set to call time on his professional career after the Rugby World Cup in France.

Sexton made his Leinster debut career playing one game in the 2005/06 season but only became a regular squad member by the 2007/08 season.

In 2013, he signed with French Top 14 club Racing 92 and played 40 times for the side before returning to the Irish province in 2015. 

Sexton’s final game for Leinster was the 41-12 URC win over Connacht in January.

James Tracy and Charlie Ryan had their careers cut short through injury and retired during the season, with Dave Kearney, Nick McCarthy, Tadgh McElroy, Sean O’Brien, Max O’Reilly, Marcus Hanan and Andrew Smith also confirmed departures.

Kearney and McCarthy are set to head to America and have been linked with Major League Rugby season the Chicago Hounds.

The players will be celebrated at the Leinster Rugby Awards Ball evening tonight.

In a statement confirming the departees, the club wrote: “Leinster Rugby wishes to thank all of the players for their efforts in Leinster blue, and we all look forward to celebrating their time as Leinster players in the company of their family and friends this evening.”

The full list of Leinster Rugby departees and their caps/points:

Johnny Sexton (189 caps / 1,646 points)
Dave Kearney (186 / 275)
James Tracy (141 / 90)
Nick McCarthy (62 / 25)
Tadgh McElroy (4 / 0)
Charlie Ryan (0 / 0)
Seán O’Brien (3 / 0)
Max O’Reilly (11 / 10)
Marcus Hanan (4 / 0)
Andrew Smith (2 / 0)

READ MORE: Sunday Social: Champions celebrate and emotional goodbyes