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Sam Warburton reveals the moment that sparked a powerful desire to return to Wales team
Ex-Wales skipper Sam Warburton has revealed the moment that sparked a strong urge of making a return to the Welsh squad.
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The two-time captain of the British and Irish Lions shocked the rugby fraternity when he announced his retirement from professional rugby last July at the age of 29, with the 79-test veteran citing his body’s inability to take anymore punishment.
Since quitting the sport, Warburton has working as a pundit for various broadcasters such as the BBC, BT Sport, Premier Sports and ITV.
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However, it was while he was working for Channel 4 during a Wales World Cup warm-up match earlier this year that the 31-year-old felt a powerful desire to return to the test rugby scene.
“This time with Channel 4, we actually were on pitchside. Suddenly the boys were all around me, all my ex-teammates and coaches and the thrills and noises and smells all came flooding back,” Warburton told the Daily Telegraph.
“I looked at them and thought ‘I should be there’. It was a feeling so powerful that it took my breath away.”
RFU chief Bill Sweeney on the contract situation of England's Eddie Joneshttps://t.co/nFH57nPB2k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 17, 2019
Shortly afterwards, Warburton then fielded a call from new Wales head coach Wayne Pivac to see how interested the former Cardiff Blues star would be in coming on board with his side.
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“I don’t think Wayne knew what I was feeling. I mean, he can’t have, because I hadn’t even told my agent,” Warburton said.
“He only wanted some feedback and I was providing it nicely enough when I just went off on one, saying ‘I’d do this and that’ etc’ – and before I knew it, he was saying ‘Let’s have another meeting’.
“The next time, he asked me on board and I was overjoyed. I don’t want to sound naff, but I was euphoric, as if I was answering my calling.
“I loved doing TV, but I realised that I was only scratching the surface of my knowledge. There’s so much more I can give back that would be going to waste otherwise.
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“When it was announced I was joining the Welsh coaching staff I heard a guy on the radio saying it was ‘a big surprise’ and I was like ‘too right, mate!’
“If you’d told me even a few months before I would have said ‘no, way; no way on earth’. I was done.”
Pivac subsequently recruited Warburton as a technical advisor at the breakdown and defence, which has been heralded by some as a masterstroke appointment.
He will work with the squad on a campaign-by-campaign basis, and began his tenure with the squad last month for Wales’ clash against the Barbarians, the first match under the stewardship of Pivac.
Warburton joins new defence coach Byron Hayward, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Humphreys and Neil Jenkins in Pivac’s backroom staff.
“This role is ideal because it’s only five or six months a year and not the 11 months a year if you are a regional coach or with one of the big England teams,” Warburton said.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments