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2nd February 2021
04:11pm GMT

"But in terms of how things are outside our bubble, there are people in a lot worse situations than we are at the moment. So we're in touch with that reality there. "With the contract stuff, talks with most guys are underway now and hopefully they'll be all sorted out, one way or the other, in the next week or two. Because you want to get it done and dusted before such a big campaign coming up. But, if not, there will be breaks coming up during the Six Nations, in those fallow weeks, to pick up the pieces if there are final pieces to be done. "But, look, it can be a distraction if you let it be a distraction. I think guys here know how important the Six Nations is, and we're just looking forward to the rugby side of things getting underway."
As for his contract situation, the 35-year-old is set to pen a new deal that will take him up to the summer of 2023, at least.
Sexton will be 38 by the time the 2023 World Cup rolls around, but do not rule out him signing a contract extension - like Rob Kearney in 2019 - that takes in that tournament time-frame.
"I don't like to throw my goals out for everyone to hear them," said Sexton, "but, obviously, being captain for this campaign, I have big aspirations that this team does really well. To win a championship as captain would be brilliant.
"There's lots of stuff and, for me, it's about taking it one campaign at a time. I'm properly focused on this one. And whether I stay on for another year, or two, I don't know. Hopefully I'll have something sorted in the next few weeks. "Like I said, all my focus is on this campaign and trying to win it, trying to do a good job as captain and make sure we do better as a team... to win some silverware is where we want to be at the end of the tournament."Expect more droplets of good contract news over the coming weeks, but do not be surprised if Irish Rugby loses a handful of players to foreign teams over the summer. French clubs are always on the look out for star names and the South African rugby franchises may well be on the look-out for some players with PRO14 experience under their belts.
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