The 24-year-old Dubliner really came of age during Leinster’s successful Heineken Cup run, when he came on for the injured Felipe Contepomi in the semi final win against Munster, before starring in the final win over Leicester.

This season he has continued where he left off, producing for Leinster week in week out, while displaying a cool head and matureness beyond his years.

Sexton has been capped by Ireland at Schools, U21 levels, and ‘A’ levels and made his senior bow with a man-of-the-match display against Fiji last November. He followed that up by scoring all 15 points in Ireland’s win over South Africa.

In the 2010 RBS 6 Nations he earned further caps against France, England, Wales and Scotland.