Tom Sexton (rugby union)
A durable and mobile hooker who carved out a solid professional career across hemispheres, from New Zealand's grassroots to the pressure of Super Rugby.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Rugby player·Birthday: December 10·Millennials
Biography
Tom Sexton's rugby journey is a story of persistence and adaptability. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, he came through the famed Canterbury system but found his professional path initially blocked. His breakthrough came not at home, but in Ireland with Leinster, where he honed his craft and claimed a Pro12 title in 2014. The hooker's career became defined by trans-Tasman movement, returning to play for the Melbourne Rebels and later the Western Force in Australia's Super Rugby competition. Known for his work rate and reliability in the set piece, Sexton was the kind of player coaches valued for his consistency. His career, while not flashy, represents the essential backbone of professional rugby—skilled journeymen who enable the stars to shine.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tom was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tom Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Tom's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Pro12 league title with Leinster in the 2013-2014 season.
- Represented the New Zealand Under-20 side in international competition.
- Played over 50 Super Rugby matches across stints with the Rebels and Western Force.
Did You Know?
He is the nephew of former All Blacks captain and number eight, Alex 'Grizz' Wyllie.
He played his first professional club rugby in Ireland, not New Zealand.
Sexton studied law at the University of Canterbury alongside his rugby career.
“You have to be ready for anything in the front row; it's a war of attrition.”
