Sam Warburton, a former Wales and two‑time British and Irish Lions captain, announced his retirement from rugby for health reasons at the age of 29, ending the career of one of the country’s greatest and most popular players.
Warburton had been working to recover from neck and knee injuries since last year’s drawn Lions series against New Zealand, when he last played.
He recently returned for pre-season training with Cardiff Blues but felt he could not reach the high standards he set himself.
Warburton played 74 games for Wales, captaining the team 49 times. He is one of two players to captain the Lions on two tours — to Australia in 2013, then New Zealand in 2017 — and played in five test matches.
Wales coach Warren Gatland said Warburton’s “leadership, attitude and demeanor, along with his performances, have placed him up there as one of the best and most respected players in the world”.
Warburton emulated England’s World Cup‑winning skipper Martin Johnson in captaining the Lions on two separate tours.
He never lost a test series, with the Lions overcoming Australia 2‑1 in 2013.
He also steered Wales to the 2011 World Cup semifinals, when he was sent off in the match against France.
[Source: TVNZ]
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