SAM WARBURTON has been named Lions captain for a second tour ahead of this summer’s series in New Zealand.
The Cardiff Blues flanker has captained Wales more times than any other man, and led the Lions to victory in Australia in 2013.
Regarded as one of the most talented openside flankers in world rugby, Warburton has featured over 60 times for his country.
Making his Wales debut in 2009, he was the 2011 Rugby World Cup’s youngest ever captain in 2011.
Here’s what we know about Sam Warburton.
How old is Sam Warburton? Where was he born?
Warburton was born on 5 October, 1988, so is currently 29.
His parents are English, but he was born and grew up in Cardiff, and considers himself both British and Welsh.
Which club teams has Warburton played for?
The Wales captain started his senior rugby career as an 18-year-old with Glamorgan Wanderers – a semi-professional club who currently play in the second highest tier of Welsh rugby, the Swalec National Championship.
While playing for Wanderers, Warburton also made a number of appearances for Wales U18,U19 and U20.
He then went on to make his debut for Cardiff Blues in 2008.
Making his international debut just a year later, the openside has featured just under 100 times for Cardiff.
When did Warburton become Wales captain?
The second-youngest Welsh captain in history, Warburton led his country for the first time in June 2011 against the Barbarians.
He was just 22 years and 242 days old.
In 2013 Warburton became the youngest-ever caption of the British and Irish Lions at the age of 24.
He went on to lift the Tom Richards Cup (with Alun Wyn Jones, who stood in during the Third Test) as the Lions claimed their first series in Australia since 1997.
His feats earned Warburton an honorary fellowship from Cardiff University in 2015.
Awarded for sporting excellence, the nominal qualification was compensation for a degree in biomedical science, which he had started at the university prior to signing his first professional contract.
On January 17, 2017, interim Wales coach Rob Howley announced that Alun Wyn Jones would be the captain for the 6 Nations and that Warburton needs to work on getting back to his best.
What is Sam Warburton’s salary?
Warburton is currently on a Welsh Rugby Union central contract, which sees his nation pay him £270,000 annually.
He is also employed by Cardiff Blues on a domestic contract where he receives additional wages.
Who is Sam Warburton’s wife? Do they have children?
The rugby superstar married long-term partner Rachel Thomas in Newport in July 2014.
The couple welcomed their first child earlier this year, when Thomas went into premature labour ahead of Wales’ tour of New Zealand.
Daughter Anna was born healthy and well on the 14th July 2016.
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