Sam Warburton retires: tributes for Welsh rugby star

The Lions captain has called time on his career at the age of 29 after more than 20 major injuries

Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton
(Image credit: Stu Forster/Getty)

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has retired from rugby at the age of 29 – an announcement that stunned Wales and the wider rugby world.

Since skippering the Lions to their memorable drawn series against the All Blacks 12 months ago in New Zealand, Warburton has been battling serious knee and neck injuries that required surgery.

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