EXCLUSIVE: RO releases leaked transcript of Johnny Sexton disciplinary hearing
Today is the day that Ireland’s World Cup hopes and dreams could come crashing down as Ireland captain Johnny Sexton faces his disciplinary hearing.
The “misconduct complaints” from the EPCR concern an altercation with referee Jaco Peyper after the Heineken Champions Cup final at the Aviva Stadium. Sexton was not even playing that game as his Leinster side lost to La Rochelle but he has been caught on film approaching the refereeing team after the match.
Take a look:
El irlandés Johnny Sexton, podría ser sancionado por insultar a Jaco Peyper, el árbitro que dirigió la final entre el Leinster y La Rochelle#LaOvalada | #Rugby | #Rugbynews pic.twitter.com/3XKLgSjFg8
— La Ovalada (@LaOvaladaWeb) June 12, 2023
Fortunately for the rugby world, Rugby Onslaught sources within the hearing have been able to leak part of his interrogation, and it does not bode well for Ireland. Read the transcript here:
Lawyer: Johnny Sexton, did you abuse the referee after the Champions Cup final?!
Judge: You don’t have to answer that question.
Sexton: I’ll answer the question. You want answers?
Lawyer: I think I’m entitled!
Sexton: You want answers?!
Lawyer: I want the truth!
Sexton: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has rugby, and those rugby matches have to be refereed by men with whistles. Who’s gonna hold them to account? Damian McKenzie? Marcus Smith? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Jaco Peyper and you curse Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell and me. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know, that my abuse, while outrageous and unacceptable, probably stops France entering every ruck at the side at the World Cup, or prevents the All Blacks from being three metres offside at every ruck. And my despicable treatment of referees every match, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, is the only thing stopping Rassie Erasmus whinging his way to another World Cup like he did in the Lions series! You don’t want the truth, because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you wanted me to abuse the referee. You needed me to abuse the referee. We use words like “side entry”, “advantage over”, “not driving straight at the scrum”. We use these words as the backbone of the laws of rugby. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very rugby that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said “thank you”, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a whistle and start refereeing. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
Lawyer: Did you abuse the referee?
Sexton: I did the job that—-
Lawyer: Did you abuse the referee?!!
Sexton: YOU’RE GODDAMN RIGHT I DID!!
