Russell included in 2021 Lions squad as Sexton omitted
Lions assistant coach says issue ‘blown out of proportion’
Johnny Sexton has insisted he is “here to help” Finn Russell in his capacity as British & Irish Lions assistant coach, after the pair shook hands and cleared the air last month following the former Ireland captain’s previous criticism of the Scotland fly-half.
Sexton toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017 but was a surprise omission from Warren Gatland’s squad in 2021. In his autobiography, the former Ireland captain revealed how the snub “kills me to this day” and described Russell as a “media darling” before suggesting in a subsequent interview that he was “flashy”.
Sexton, who retired after the 2023 World Cup, was added in April to Andy Farrell’s coaching staff for the tour of Australia this summer, making for a potentially awkward reunion with Russell, who is the favourite to start at fly-half in the three-Test series against the Wallabies.
