Although sad to see Johnny Sexton leave Racing Metro, Ronan O’Gara believes his decision to return to Leinster from the start of next season will boost Ireland in the long-run.
"It's the logical decision, because he's one of the best players from Ireland," the former Ireland out-half and Racing assistant coach O’Gara told RTÉ Sport.
“You play your best rugby when you’re happiest as a person first. He needs to be happy to be at his optimum and that needs to be the case for the World Cup.
"His support network over here [in France] makes it difficult for him, they don’t have grandparents or sisters or cousins and he misses that.
"Everybody at home will be happy, he's a great signing for Leinster. As a coach at Racing I'd be disappointed because players of that calibre are hard to find.
“He made huge sacrifices and a brave move coming and he’ll return a better person and a better player."
O’Gara also feels that the Sexton underestimated how much he would miss playing for his home province.
"It's something special playing for your province, it probably takes going away to appreciate that,” he said.
“People play for Munster, Ulster, Leinster because they’re supported like no other team, and playing for your province is a passion and a dream come true. It means something to you and I think that’s what Johnny needs.”
Leinster CEO Mick Dawson expressed his delight at Sexton’s impending return home to a side with which he won multiple trophies.
"It's great news for Irish rugby. The mantra from the IRFU and Leinster is that we want to keep the best players playing here, “ said Dawson.
"It's a great fillip for everybody.I don't think Johnny wanted to go at the time [in 2013] - circumstances dictated that he went - but I think he wanted to come home. Most people like playing in their home country, he's comfortable in Dublin, so we're delighted by that.
"You've got to be competitive and realistic, they have very deep pockets in France but we put our best foot forward, Johnny had a decision to make and we're delighted he came home.
"There's a finite limit in what you can do - circumstances were different then [when Sexton left in 2012] and I don't think anybody was to blame."
Racing Metro press officer Ian Borthwick told RTÉ that he believed homesickness was the main motivating factor for Sexton’s decision not to take up the Parisian side’s offer of a contract extension.
“We are very disappointed at the decision, but we realise that a young sportsman he has to make these decisions and we know it’s not easy for him,” said Borthwick.
"It's great news for Irish rugby. The mantra from the IRFU and Leinster is that we want to keep the best players playing here." - Mick Dawson
“We’re disappointed that he’s leaving us but at the same time we’ve still got a season to play here and we’re looking forward to him participating in a successful season for Racing this year.”
“Part of the decision is for sporting reasons. He felt it was added pressure when he left Racing for Ireland, and Ireland for Racing, the coaches weren’t happy but there is a factor of homesickness, and that’s mostly, I feel, been brought about by the birth of his son Luca.
“Since then, he and his wife are missing their families more and that’s been part of the decision.”
