Sam Warburton was a keen footballer, playing for his school team, and even had a professional trial when he was 14, but decided to move into rugby instead, initially playing for Rhiwbina RFC and Glamorgan Wanderers.
He represented Wales at all levels, including the under-18, under-19, under-20, and senior teams.
Over the course of his playing career, Sam captain Wales a record 49 times, guiding them to two Six Nations titles and the semi-final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. His leadership qualities were further recognised when he was selected as the captain for the British and Irish Lions in both the 2013 and 2017 tours, and is still the youngest Lions captain to date, aged just 24.
At the 2013 tour to Australia, Sam led the Lions to their first series win in 16 years, at a time when the future of the Lions in the professional era was beginning to be questioned. He was once again named captain for the 2017 tour to New Zealand, becoming just the second person in history to captain the team twice.
In July 2018, Sam announced his retirement from rugby union when he was just 29 years old, after failing to fully recover from back and neck surgery.
Sam Warburton | In the Media
Sam hasn’t completely turned his back on rugby, and is now a broadcaster for BBC Sport, BT Sport, and TNT, covering the Six Nations and World Cup.
He has also made guest appearances on programmes including Good Morning Britain (2019), Football Focus (2019), The Clare Balding Show (2015), A Question of Sport (2011), and Breakfast (2011).
Sam is the host of the Captains podcast, which sees him sit down with a world-class sporting leader as they compare notes, relive life-changing moments, and share stories about what it means to be a captain at the highest level. His guests have included Ashley Williams, Osi Ymenyiora, John Barclay, Sebastian Coe, Shaun Edwards, Sir Chris Hoy, and Jonny Wilkinson. He is also a familiar voice on the Rugby Union Weekly Podcast.
Sam is a published author of a few autobiographies, including:
– Refuse To Be Denied: My Grand Slam Year (2012)
– Lions Triumphant: The Captain’s Story (2013)
– Open Side: The Official Autobiography (2019)
Sam Warburton | Other Work
Sam first joined the Board of Cardiff Rugby as an advisor in 2019, but left to join the Wales coaching staff. He returned to the board in 2023 where he stayed until April 2025, leaving to focus more on his family and his fitness work.
Sam is the founder of SW7 Academy, an online fitness platform which has helped over 10,000 clients.
He is now a highly sought-after motivational sport speaker who talks about leadership, resilience, and dedication to excellence, and how the skills he learnt in sport can be used in the world of business.
Sam Warburton | Speaking Topics
– Choosing Your Leadership Style
– Dealing With Adversity
– Effective Communication
– Managing Stress
– Goal Setting
– Leadership Behaviours
