Johnny Sexton delights RTE viewers with Late Late Toy Show ...
JOHNNY Sexton provided an early Christmas present to super-fan Liam as he gifted him a pair of boots to hone his rugby skills.
Liam initially appeared on RTE's festive favourite as part of a book club - with him singing the praises of one that charts the history of rugby.
2
2
Host Patrick Kielty then teed him up to practice his passing with a cardboard cutout of the Ireland icon...only for the man himself to appear seconds later.
As well as giving Liam the boots and a few wise words about always listening to your coaches, the 39-year-old provided viewers with an update on his life since hanging up his own boots last year.
Sexton joked that he'd been writing his newly released autobiography for almost seven years since he had originally planned on retiring after the 2019 World Cup rather than the 2023 edition.
Colm O'Regan was among several viewers to point out how the Leinster legend still remains a brutally honest interview - even in situations like this - as he did acknowledge there have been bumps along the road.
The comedian tweeted: "Johnny Sexton brings to the #toyshow the hugely important and necessary message that it's hard to transition from high performance international sport to retirement.
"Never too early for kids to learn this."
Meanwhile Meggan O'Reilly noted he didn't actually take much off his passes either.
She laughed: "Johnny Sexton sent that rugby ball flying back to Liam!"
Lastly Erin hailed: "Liam is proper starstruck. I think I would give him the world, let him take Johnny Sexton home!"
Overall it was another heartwarming Toy Show from start to finish.
Toy Show star steals the show with hilarious segment
The annual extravaganza kicked off with a musical homage to Home Alone with the Xmas movie classic being the theme for the night.
There was also a surprise appearance from a far more diminutive figure - a Labrador puppy who is aptly named Star considering she instantly melted hearts in the audience.
Amid all of the happy scenes there was a tear-jerking moment when tragic Toy Show star Saoirse Ruane was sweetly remembered.
A star atop the Christmas tree on set was shown to bear her name as the youngster was still at the forefront of showrunners' minds.
The brave Galway girl's family were left heartbroken after the 12-year-old sadly passed away back in March after a long affliction with cancer.
She won the nation's hearts when she appeared on the Toy Show during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, aged 8, to speak about her health struggle.
She had been diagnosed with a rare form of the disease and had had a leg amputated.
Viewers were left emotional as they took to X to share their thoughts on the poignant tribute.
Teresa said: "Saoirse's star on top of the tree… that's done it."'
While another person gushed: "Saoirse's star was the moment that caught my heart by surprise."
Aoibhin wrote: "Oh not me ugly crying the second I realised what Saoirse's star was."
While someone else added: "Saoirse's star has me bawling. I hope her family knows how much she was loved by everyone in the country."
