RACING MÉTRO PRESIDENT Jacky Lorenzetti admits speculation over Jonny Sexton’s future has been an unwelcome feature of the start of the season, as French media reports link the Parisian club with Rémi Talès.
Sexton – who has now confirmed he will return to Ireland next season – is currently sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a fractured jaw in last weekend’s hard-fought 17-10 victory over Toulon.
“It puts him under pressure, it’s fair enough, but I hope that this pressure stays in Ireland and doesn’t cross the Channel,” Lorenzetti told Rugbyrama.
“Maybe these rumours have disturbed his preparation. The knock he took [against Toulon] will keep him sidelined for four to six weeks, it’s a nuisance for us and we must recognise that the start of the season has been difficult for him.”
A report in today’s L’Équipe suggests that Racing have already taken action in searching out a replacement for their star out-half.
France international Rémi Talès is the man the daily sports newspaper have named as Racing’s primary target, and L’Équipe say the Parisians have extended a €400,000-per-annum offer to the Castres playmaker.
Such a move would go against Lorenzetti’s insistence yesterday that Racing are currently well stocked behind Sexton in the number 10 department. Rugbyrama asked the real estate magnate if the club have made any such moves, to which Lorenzetti replied:
“No, because we are content with [Johan] Goosen and [Benjamin] Dambielle, who are two very good elements [of Racing's squad]. We also have the World Cup arriving next year and you can imagine that after that tournament, there will be good options on the market.
