Ledley (Dog)
Sam Warburton became the owner of a Miniature Labradoodle named Ledley, whom he first encountered in January 2014 at a breeder located in South Wales[1].
Cardiff Dogs Home (Dog)
Sam Warburton embarked on a fundraising campaign with the goal of collecting £500,000 for Cardiff Dogs Home, a local rescue center in Cardiff where he resides[2]. The facility urgently requires renovations to improve the kennels, where, despite the efforts of numerous volunteer dog walkers, the dogs often spend up to 23 hours daily. This can create a stressful environment for the animals. Initiated in January 2021, Warburton successfully reached his fundraising target by May 2023[3].
Sam Warburton
Birthday
October 5, 1988 (35)
Links (Tags)
Sam Warburton is a Welsh former international rugby union player. Born on October 5, 1988, in Cardiff, Wales, Warburton played for Cardiff Rugby and was first capped for Wales in 2009. He primarily played as an openside flanker but was also capable of playing at blindside. In June 2011, Warburton was named Wales captain against the Barbarians and was subsequently appointed Wales captain for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He also captained the British & Irish Lions on their 2013 tour to Australia and the 2017 tour to New Zealand. Warburton held the record for the most Wales caps as captain (49) until surpassed by Alun Wyn Jones. In July 2018, he announced his retirement from rugby union at the age of 29 after failing to fully recover from neck and back surgery.
Warburton’s rugby career was marked by significant achievements and milestones. He represented Wales at various levels, captaining the under-18s, under-19s, and under-20s, and leading Wales to the semi-finals of the World Championships at both under-19 and under-20 levels. Warburton made his debut for the senior Wales national team against the United States on June 6, 2009. He was named in the 35-man Wales squad for the 2010 Six Nations and scored his first international try against Italy in the 2011 Six Nations. Warburton captained Wales for the first time against the Barbarians in June 2011, becoming Wales’ second youngest captain after Gareth Edwards. He was named man of the match in a World Cup warm-up match against England and was subsequently named captain for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Sam Warburton’s collaborations with key figures significantly shaped his success. Playing alongside Welsh rugby legends like Alun Wyn Jones, Leigh Halfpenny, and Jonathan Davies, Warburton led Wales to notable victories. His synergy with British & Irish Lions teammates such as Brian O’Driscoll, Maro Itoje, and Owen Farrell was crucial in the Lions’ tours to Australia and New Zealand.
