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Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Sam Warburton's new life after shock announcement and final act that changed everything
Sam Warburton's new life after shock announcement and final act that changed everything The Lions cohort of 2025 is embarking on their latest journey, but Warburton is among the pantheon of greats for the touring team Sam Warburton with his wife, Rachel, and three kids; Anna, Max and Lily (Image: Instagram/Sam Warburton ) It seems almost inconceivable it has been seven years this week since Sam Warburton stunned the rugby world when, at just 29, he announced his retirement from the sport. The Welsh rugby great left an indelible mark on the game for his achievements in the red of both Wales and the Lions. He has since carved out a fine career for himself following retirement and is renowned as one of the finest rugby pundits on our TV screens. When this summer's Lions kicks off on Friday night in Dublin, for the warm-up match against Argentina, he will be behind the microphone, providing his typically insightful, expert analysis. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. The former Wales and Lions captain had endured a career plagued by injuries and ultimately made the decision to walk away a year after leading the Lions to a memorable drawn series against New Zealand. He had taken time out from the sport after that tour and never actually played again. During a distinguished playing career, Warburton earned 74 Wales caps — 49 of them as captain — and won two Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam. He also led the Lions in two unbeaten Test series and made 106 appearances for Cardiff, helping the Arms Park side lift the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2010. Sam Warburton's new career Seven years on, Warburton has carved out a successful second act as a respected pundit. He is a lead analyst for BBC's coverage of the Six Nations and a familiar voice on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. His work also includes media columns with The Times and his own podcast, Captains, while he is also a regular fixture on TNT Sport's Premiership coverage. This summer, he is part of Sky Sports' Lions punditry team. Article continues below Outside of broadcasting, he runs the SW7 Academy, a fitness programme designed for athletes of all abilities. In 2023, Warburton returned to Cardiff Rugby as a board member, having previously had a brief spell in an advisory role before joining Wayne Pivac's Wales coaching team. However, with Cardiff Rugby having fallen into administration and then being bought out by the WRU, Warburton announced his resignation from the board back in April. He cited the demands of his media commitments and his staunch belief in reducing the number of regional sides in Welsh rugby as being key factors in his decision to step down from the board at Cardiff Rugby. He has rarely shied away from voicing strong and passionate opinions about the game. He recently reignited debate around relegation from the Six Nations, suggesting that the bottom-placed team should face a play-off — particularly if Wales finish with the Wooden Spoon again. He has long advocated for the inclusion of dominant Rugby Europe champions Georgia in the top tier and, of course, reducing the number of professional rugby clubs in Wales. Off the field, Warburton's life is grounded in family. He married childhood sweetheart Rachel Thomas in 2014, and the couple — who grew up on the same street in Cardiff — now have three children. 'Three little ones and a dog — we're done!' he joked after the birth of their youngest, Lily, in 2023. Looking back, Warburton has no regrets about retiring young. Speaking on a podcast with Dr Alex George, he reflected: 'Do I miss it? Absolutely not. I loved it when I did it, but the reward of a long, healthy family life outweighed the risk of continuing to play rugby.' Warburton, who was awarded an OBE in 2018, remains one of Welsh rugby's most admired figures — not just for what he achieved on the pitch, but for the clear-sighted, grounded life he's built since stepping away. The final act of a great rugby career Indeed, perhaps his final act on a rugby pitch summed him up best – and is pertinent given the Lions tour is just about to get under way in earnest once again. Warburton was at the centre of a defining moment at the end of a gruelling, nail-biting and tightly-fought contest between the Lions and New Zealand in 2017. 'In a Test career full of great moments, one in particular sticks in my mind,' said Warren Gatland, the then Lions coach, at the time. 'His captaincy in the third Test for the Lions in New Zealand, in a game finely balanced and potentially historic, was exemplary. The New Zealand media were mightily impressed by him, and rightly so.' Gatland was referring to the final stages of the decisive third Test at Eden Park, where the Lions and All Blacks were level at 15-15. In the dying minutes, referee Romain Poite appeared poised to award New Zealand a match-winning penalty after Ken Owens had picked up a knock-on from Liam Williams in an offside position. The decision to penalise Ken Owens was not upheld thanks to Sam Warburton But Warburton, demonstrating composure and awareness under extreme pressure, calmly asked the referee to review the decision for potential accidental offside. After a video review, the penalty was downgraded to a scrum — a ruling that preserved the draw and ensured the Lions shared the series with the world champions. Warburton later explained: 'It's a shot to nothing at that point. I just asked him to check for the accidental offside. The whole game [Poite] was receptive to having another look at things he might not have seen clearly at first. 'I'm glad it was a scrum instead. When you think back to the World Cup when that happened with Scotland and Australia and they kicked the penalty — the Scots were angry, and I remember thinking there has to be an alternative. In my opinion, it wasn't a penalty offence.' Article continues below That moment is widely seen as Warburton's final significant act on a rugby field — and one that encapsulated the respect he commanded from officials, team-mates and opponents alike. Gatland's decision to appoint Warburton as Wales captain at just 22 was vindicated time and again. 'Referees listened to him because they admired his decency,' Gatland said. 'He showed everyone respect, and they respected him in return.' That split-second decision in Auckland — not a crunching tackle or a game-breaking turnover — is what Gatland believes defines Warburton's legacy: calm, intelligent, and unshakably principled.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
O2 upgrades Glasgow mobile network in 3,000 postcodes
This comes after the company made enhancements to the signal and services in more than 3,000 postcodes over the past year. The upgrades are part of Virgin Media O2's Mobile Transformation Plan, which will see the operator invest around £700 million this year to future-proof its mobile network. The plan aims to expand 4G and 5G coverage, introduce dedicated small cells to increase capacity in densely populated areas, and implement innovative solutions to address persistent network pain points, including those along railway lines, at airports, on motorways, and in stadiums and arenas. Read more: 'Should have realised': Lorraine Kelly says daughter was 'terrified' to share secret 'Why did you open your chequebook?' - Warburton questions Rangers spending Rangers legend involved in four-person bike crash during charity challenge Dr Robert Joyce, director of mobile access engineering at O2, said: "With customers using more data than ever before, the improvements we've made at over 3,000 postcodes in Glasgow will ensure local people and businesses can access reliable connectivity that is so essential in powering our customers' digital lifestyles." Virgin Media O2 also plans to decommission outdated parts of its network, including the 3G network. This will allow the operator to transfer traffic to the more energy-efficient and reliable 4G and 5G networks. Councillor Paul Leinster, chair of the Digital Glasgow Board at Glasgow City Council, said: "Glasgow City Council is delighted to work with O2 on their mobile upgrades in the city. "Reliable and fast mobile networks are no longer a luxury, but a fundamental necessity for the residents and businesses of Glasgow. "From staying connected with loved ones, to accessing vital public services, and powering our local economy, good mobile coverage is essential to ensure that no Glaswegian is left behind."
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Mark Warburton slams Rangers over Pedro Caixinha backing
Warburton, who left the club in February 2017, has suggested that he was pushed out and did not resign as claimed. He was replaced by Caixinha after Rangers found themselves 19 points behind in the title race and struggling for second place against Aberdeen. The Portuguese manager spent money the following summer on players like Carlos Pena, Eduardo Herrera, and Fabio Cardoso, who all turned out to be unsuccessful signings. Other purchases, like Alfredo Morelos, Daniel Candeias, Graham Dorrans, and Bruno Alves, were more successful. Warburton had previously relied heavily on free transfers and loans, with small fees paid for Josh Windass, Matt Crooks, and Joe Garner. The 62-year-old now questions why Caixinha, an unproven manager at the time, was given such financial backing when funds had been lacking during his tenure. "Looking back, what frustrates me is that during my time we couldn't get certain players as the money was so tight. "Then suddenly Pedro Caixinha was appointed and the board opened the chequebook so he could sign all these players." Warburton added: "I was looking on from afar wondering, 'Why didn't you give it to us? "Why were we scraping around for Niko Kranjcar, Clint Hill, on free transfers, earning probably the lowest wages they'd had for 20 years? "All these players were free so why did they open a chequebook you told me never existed for a guy no one had ever heard of before? "After that, obviously Steven Gerrard came in. "I have huge respect for Steven but again they opened the chequebook for him and were all of a sudden signing guys on £20,000-£30,000 a week." Despite the financial backing for Caixinha and Gerrard, Warburton says the club needs consistent management. He added: "The new sporting director Kevin Thelwell is a good guy, someone I know well. "I know there are still some very good people at the club, so you just have to hope there can now be some solid, steady management."
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Mark Warburton pulls Rangers board up on key decision
Warburton left Rangers in February 2017 and would later claim it was untrue that he resigned, suggesting he had been pushed out the door and would seek legal advice. Sitting 19 points adrift in the title race and in an, ultimately unsuccessful, battle with Aberdeen for second, the Englishman paid for that with his job and was replaced by Pedro Caixinha. The Portuguese spent money that summer on the likes of Carlos Pena, Eduardo Herrera and Fabio Cardoso who all turned out to be flops. Buys like Alfredo Morelos, Daniel Candeias, Graham Dorrans and Bruno Alves were more successful to varying degrees. But the point is, there was money being spent. The previous summer, Warburton had relied upon free transfers and loans to add to his squad, with small fees paid for Josh Windass, Matt Crooks and Joe Garner. In hindsight, the 62-year-old wonders why an unproven manager like Caixinha was given such a backing when it had been lacking during his time. Read more: He told the Daily Record: "The club needs sensible governance. Looking back, what frustrates me is that during my time we couldn't get certain players as the money was so tight. Then suddenly Pedro Caixinha was appointed and the board opened the chequebook so he could sign all these players. "I was looking on from afar wondering, 'Why didn't you give it to us? Why were we scraping around for Niko Kranjcar, Clint "Hill, on free transfers, earning probably the lowest wages they'd had for 20 years? All these players were free so why did they open a chequebook you told me never existed for a guy no one had ever heard of before? After that, obviously Steven Gerrard came in. I have huge respect for Steven but again they opened the chequebook for him and were all of a sudden signing guys on £20,000-£30,000 a week. "But even after that, the carnage ensues again. The club just needs consistent building. "The new sporting director Kevin Thelwell is a good guy, someone I know well. I know there are still some very good people at the club, so you just have to hope there can now be some solid, steady management. Hopefully they can put a plan in place to build the squad and give the new manager the chance he needs to build. That's the key thing."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Mark Warburton makes astonishing Rangers claims over 55 banner, Petrofac Cup and 'shoddy' exit
The former Rangers boss has looked back at his time at Ibrox in the second part of our exclusive interview Mark Warburton sat down in the hours after his crowning moment as Rangers manager and treated himself to a celebratory glass of wine. But as he sank that first sip, the Englishman soon found himself gulping down the realisation that things would never again be the same for him in Glasgow. The Ibrox gaffer had just masterminded a stunning Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Celtic. By leading the Ibrox Championship squad to a spot-kick triumph over Ronny Deila's Premiership champions at Hampden, he had earned instant adulation from an Ibrox fanbase starved of success. The Light Blue legions were already impressed enough with the job he was doing. Hired in the summer of 2015 to complete the primary task of leading the club back to the Premiership after Stuart McCall's promotion push had faltered the season before, he ticked that challenge off with little fuss with a new-look squad that enthralled the fans with their brand of entertaining, fluid football. But by beating Celtic, however, it quickly dawned on Warburton that he had inadvertently pushed the bar of expectation far higher than the budget he was working with could reach. All of a sudden, simply rejoining their bitter rivals in the top division following a bleak four-year trudge through the lower leagues was no longer enough for the fans and the over-eager Ibrox board. Warburton realised then that the impatient Rangers support would demand to see a team that he knew was nowhere near ready to take on Celtic for honours. As things turned out, he had every right to be worried by that misplaced confidence. The scenes of wild Rangers joy in the directors box served only to convince Dermot Desmond to push the boat out at Parkhead. In came a Titanic name in Brendan Rodgers and a raft of huge signings that would propel a Celtic squad already miles and millions in front of Gers onto another dimension entirely. In the second part of Warburton's exclusive sit-down with Record Sport to mark the 10th anniversary of his Rangers appointment, he looked back and said: 'I remember getting home that night, sitting down for a glass of wine and thinking, 'Oh God!' 'It wasn't in a negative way but it was me realising that our budget was still a fraction of Celtic's. 'Guys like Dom Ball, I kid you not, were probably on one-tenth of what some Celtic players were earning. 'Our entire midfield in that semi-final was on less than one of their midfield players. So my point was, not negatively, but this result is just a building block. 'We knew that nine times out of 10, Celtic would have won that game. 'Then you consider that the next season when we returned to the Premiership, Celtic had added again. They had some real quality on the pitch, bringing in guys like Moussa Dembele. Again, his wage was multiples of most of my squad.' It didn't take long for the new expectation levels to be spelled out for Warburton - in 40ft high letters across the Govan Stand. 'We played Hamilton in the first league game at Ibrox. I remember getting there at 8.55am. 'I used to love getting in early, to get a cuppa and write down some notes before the crowd comes in. 'So I walk down the tunnel. The pitch was being watered, the sun was shining. I'm thinking it was all magnificent. 'Then I look up and see this huge display – Going for 55. 'I immediately thought, who the f*** has done that? 'They were lighting the blue-touch paper for the Ibrox fans when I wanted to calm things down. 'That's not me lacking optimism or desire. No. I just realised that Celtic still probably had five times our budget. I would say conservatively five times more. 'In any other league with that scenario, you've got no chance. 'What really peed me off was that people would say to me, 'Oh you don't know what's expected at Rangers. You don't understand the club. You don't know we have to win every game.' 'Of course I did! Why would I not know that? "They spoke about it as if I was totally ignorant, which I found really, really frustrating. 'I knew the expectation, and I knew what was involved. I think we delivered on that in the first season.' While Rodgers tooled up for Rangers' return by signing Dembele - one of the hottest young talents in Europe at the time - and former Manchester City ace Scott Sinclair, Warburton had to wheel and deal. Clint Hill, 37, and 31-year-old Niko Kranjcar arrived on frees but the veteran former Premier League stars' legs had long slowed past the point where they could match the blistering pace being set by Rodgers' red-hot Celts. Then of course there was a certain Joey Barton. He arrived and immediately aimed a sneering, dismissive dig at the man he was expected to square up to. 'He ain't in my league - he is nowhere the level I am as a player,' spat the controversial Scouser in reference to Celtic skipper Scott Brown. Of course those words were forced straight back down his throat on a mortifying afternoon at Celtic Park. 'It just didn't work out,' said Warburton as he looked back on the Barton signing - an ill-judged experiment that soon blew up with a training ground bust-up in the wake of that 5-1 derby demolition job. 'I'm not going to sit here and criticise Joey. That's not my intention at all. 'But very quickly, you see a couple of social media posts and stuff. You realise Joey is Joey. 'So it didn't work out. An incident happened that was not right — unacceptable. 'The trouble was that Joey had been a big signing, had a big profile. But legally we weren't allowed to say anything about what had happened, so of course, the press had a field day. 'All you read was 'no comment from Warburton, nothing from Rangers' - but we weren't legally allowed to comment. So that was a frustration 'But equally were all the headlines about us being so many points behind Celtic. What did they expect? 'I'm looking at the squad we had. Jason Holt, Andy Halliday, guys I can't speak highly enough about. Dom Ball too. But these were players on minimal wages compared to the sums being spent by Celtic. 'And of course we then have that game at Parkhead. We have Rob Kiernan and Philippe Senderos sent off, are down to nine men with a back three of Barton, Lee Wallace and James Tavernier. 'I remember being told after that game that I should have just shut up shop and taken a 3-1 defeat. 'However, if you remember just after half-time when the score was only 2-1, Barrie McKay fires a huge chance an inch wide of the post. I'm going at that moment, 'We're in this…' 'Celtic scored again but I just felt if we could get another one, the crowd would get nervous again, so what's the point in me shutting up shop and accepting a 3-1 defeat? 'I couldn't do that. 'But even talking to Walter Smith afterwards, he said 'Maybe take the 3-1 because the five really hurts you.' 'But listen, hindsight is a marvellous thing.' Looking back to that humiliating afternoon in September 2016, it was the beginning of the end for Warburton as faith in his management frayed. He limped on until February 2017 before bizarrely learning on TV that he had 'resigned' - despite not having spoken with Ibrox chiefs for over a week before his exit. That was an infuriating episode that seemed to sum up the chaotic world in which Rangers existed at the time. But not nearly as frustrating for Warburton as having the goalposts shifted on his employment objectives. 'My target, set by the board, was to get European football in year three,' he said. 'I said, if we can't get European football by then, we don't deserve to be in the job. 'But suddenly, Brendan comes in and Celtic have their best ever season in the club's history. An invincible season. 'We were still on track for second or third but at that point everything changed - but really all that had changed was the gap to Celtic. 'I thought there was enough credit in the bank from the year before. We'd won the Petrofac Cup, we'd won the league by double-figure points, we'd got to the Scottish Cup final. 'So I felt there was enough credit in the bank.' In the end, Warburton's credit line ran out just hours before he was due to oversee a Scottish Cup tie against Morton. Initially it was reported that he had chosen to step down - but that was news to the Londoner. Rangers insisted Warburton and his No2 Davie Weir had asked to quit 'without compensation' so they could move to Nottingham Forest. The pair did eventually take up a post at the City Ground, but a decade on Warburton continues to argue until he is blue in the face against the narrative laid out by then Ibrox chairman Dave King. 'To this day, it irks me, it frustrates the life out of me, it angers me,' he raged. 'We'd had a board meeting and I knew that the tone had changed and it was wrong, it was inappropriate. 'I referred back to the KPIs, European football next year, not this year, we were sitting second/third. So everything was OK. 'But the gap to Celtic was a dominant factor. 'All I remember was sitting on my sofa one Friday night and my phone started going nuts. At that point I see the yellow ticker tape on Sky Sports saying, 'Mark Warburton resigns from Rangers'. 'But honestly, who resigns from Rangers? You just don't do that. 'So I called Davie Weir and said, 'I think I've just been sacked'. 'Davie goes, 'So have I'. At that point I looked at the ticker tape and it said 'Weir also resigns'. 'I hadn't spoken to Stewart Robertson for around 10 days at that point. But suddenly I get a message saying check your email inbox. That was it. 'We'd never had any conversation. I still have no idea where the resignation thing came from. 'It was obvious the chairman wanted to make a change because of the gap to Celtic. 'It was handled so poorly. Everyone tells me about the integrity and respect of the club, which I absolutely believe in, but on that occasion it couldn't have been more shoddy.'
