FORMER LEINSTER HOOKER Tom Sexton made his Super Rugby debut for the Melbourne Rebels in the Australian franchise’s 36-12 defeat to the Hurricanes this morning.
The 25-year-old came off the bench in the 58th minute of the clash in Wellington and got through a handful of carries and tackles.
The Rebels – coached by former Munster boss Tony McGahan – failed to pick up their second win of the season, but remained competitive throughout against the top-of-the-table Hurricanes.
For Sexton, this appearance was just reward for his hard work in Melbourne since arriving from Leinster in 2013. An ACL injury meant he missed the entire 2014 Super Rugby season, but the former Ireland U20 hooker has returned to fitness in style.
A native of Melbourne, Sexton left Australia at the age of four to move to Ireland with his family, and was educated in Belvedere College. Indeed, the front row captained the school to their most recent Leinster Schools Senior Cup title in 2008.
The Lansdowne FC clubman went on to make eight senior Leinster appearances under Joe Schmidt, including two starts in the Pro12 in the 2012/13 season.
The lure of a Super Rugby contract in his native land proved too hard to resist thereafter, particularly with Sexton remaining qualified to play for Australia.
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Unfortunately for Sexton, his debut came in defeat as the impressive Hurricanes ran in five tries in their 36-12 victory to maintain top spot in Super Rugby.
TJ Perenara, Cory Jane and Callum Gibbins all bagged tries, while the electric Nehe Milner-Skudder dotted down twice in just 10 minutes on the pitch.
In this morning’s other Super Rugby action, the return from injury of Wallabies out-half Quade Cooper couldn’t prevent the Reds from going down to an 18-17 home defeat against the Lions.
Reds head coach Richard Graham will come under even more pressure after this result, with the franchise having won just once in six games so far this season.
