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Sexton was injured during Ireland's win over Australia. Colm O'Neill/INPHO
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Concern over Sexton head injury as L'Équipe reports spell on sidelines

The Ireland out-half sustained the injury against Australia in November.

THERE IS CONCERN for Johnny Sexton as a report in France suggests the Ireland out-half will be sidelined until mid-February with the after effects of a head injury he sustained against Australia last November.

French sports daily L’Équipe is reporting that Sexton has been suffering headaches and nausea since clashing heads with Rob Kearney late on in Ireland’s November win over the Wallabies and will not return to action until 14 February.

Having been contacted by TheScore.ie, Sexton’s French club Racing Métro said their medical team had no statement to make regarding how long the player will be sidelined for, although they did confirm that the 29-year-old was dealing with a head injury.

Sexton has not played for the Top 14 club since returning from Ireland duty last month, and has been ruled out of this weekend’s league clash with La Rochelle.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris earlier today, Racing coach Laurent Labit said: “As long as Johnny Sexton doesn’t feel 100%, we cannot take any risks. He’s not ready to play yet.”

L’Équipe’s article on Sexton states that he has visited a neurologist in Paris several times in recent weeks. The result of those visits is that Sexton has been ordered not to play rugby again until the 14 February, says the French sports newspaper.

Sexton, the article continues, will still be free to take part in non-contact training in the meantime.

Contacted by TheScore.ie this afternoon, the IRFU said it had no statement to make on the issue, with their medical team not currently in camp.

Should Sexton be absent until mid-February, he would miss Ireland’s opening game of the 2015 Six Nations against Italy in Rome on 7 February. However, that timeframe would give him some chance of returning for the clash versus France in Dublin on 14 February.

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