IRISH LOCK JERRY Sexton has joined London Irish on a permanent deal, having spent the final months of the season on loan to the club from Exeter.

The 23-year-old lock will join London Irish as they aim to bounce straight back into the Premiership after their relegation to the Championship for the 2016/17 season.

Sexton played for the Ireland U20s in 2012. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Former Ireland U20 international Sexton, the younger brother of Ireland out-half Johnny, joined Exeter in 2014. He made five appearances in the LV= Cup in his first season with the Chiefs and earned a Premiership debut against Gloucester in early 2015.

However, Sexton was on the fringes of the Chiefs’ first team for the early part of the campaign just ended and switched to London Irish on loan in February, going on to make five Premiership appearances in total.

Sexton – who spent a year in France with Pro D2 club Auch in 2013/14 – did enough in his short stint to convince London Irish that he can play a part in their bid to return to the Premiership.

I’m pleased to have made my move to London Irish permanent and I’m really looking forward to helping the club achieve its ultimate goal of promotion back to the Aviva Premiership at the first time of asking,” said Sexton.

“The facilities here at Hazelwood are second to none and the infrastructure is in place for the club to realise its long-term ambitions. London Irish is a family club built on a rich history and tradition and I’m delighted to have signed for the club.”

Sexton joins former Ireland prop Tom Court and ex-Leinster flanker Conor Gilsenan in the London Irish squad for next season, although Ian Nagle, Eoin Griffin and Eoin Sheriff have all departed this summer.

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Tom Farrell will join Bedford ahead of next season. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Among the other new Irish faces in the Championship next season will be Lansdowne FC man Tom Farrell, who joins Bedford Blues after spending some time with London Irish’s ‘A’ side this season.

Former Connacht lock Dave Nolan has signed for this season’s beaten finalists Doncaster, while ex-Munster fullback Sean Scanlon has also signed for the Knights from Rotherham to join Irish halfbacks Declan Cusack and Michael Heaney at the club.

Willie Ryan has moved to Ealing Trailfinders from Rotherham, although Danny Barnes, Eoghan Grace, Jamie Kilbane and Danny Kenny have left the Trailfinders.

Second row Sheriff has signed for London Scottish, while Ian Costello’s Nottingham welcome Jordan Coghlan, Gearoid Lyons and Shane Buckley from Munster.

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