Munster’s Ian Keatley will win his fourth cap and make his Six Nations debut in Rome in place of Sexton, but the British and Irish Lions playmaker will now be available to face France on February 14.

Ireland bosses confirmed Sexton was given the all-clear by Racing Metro medics on Thursday.

The IRFU also received official written notification from World Rugby that Sexton is now clear to return to full contact training and match action on Friday morning.

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Sexton’s French Top 14 club Racing had driven the 29-year-old’s extended lay-off after he racked up four concussions inside a calendar year.

Ireland bosses refused to interfere with that process, happy to let Racing and their medics complete the necessary tests before allowing the former Leinster fly-half to return.

Sexton’s Paris-based club have now completed those formalities, leaving Ireland’s premier playmaker free to return to full training on Monday.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt described selecting Keatley at fly-half to face the Italians ahead of Leinster’s Ian Madigan as a “vote of confidence”.

“Ian’s finished games off well and that’s given confidence he can do the same for us,” Schmidt said after naming Ireland’s team on Thursday.

“His kicking percentages since Christmas are very, very strong.

“Based on that, we’d have confidence he can kick well.

“I think you’ve got to be able to give confidence or put confidence in players who are delivering – and in recent times he’s delivered.”