Jake: No doubts Sam’s made the correct decision
WASPS PROP ON FORMER TEAM-MATE’S RETIREMENT
SAM Warburton’s recent retirement sent ripples through rugby union as the sport lost one of its finest players three months shy of his 30th birthday.
The two-time British and Irish Lions captain’s career has been beset by injuries prompting the Cardiff Blues flanker to call time on his career that yielded 79 international caps.
Wasps tighthead prop Jake CooperWoolley was fresh out of university and making his first steps into professional rugby at Cardiff Arms Park when his paths crossed with Warburton, who would go on to captain Wales a record 49 times.
While their connection as teammates was punctuated by injuries and call-ups, Cooper-Woolley had nothing but admiration for the retiring star.
“Sam was there but I came in straight out of uni, went into a full-time preseason,” said the prop, who is 13 months Warburton’s junior. He must’ve been on tour or something, it was quite early on in June so he would’ve been away. “I did the first five-week block then we had a week off and then we went to South Africa to play the Cheetahs. He hadn’t come back in and I did my ACL so I went back into rehab. “We would be in really early in the morning and be out of the club by 11. There would’ve been period where he would’ve been but I didn’t have too much to do with him, I was buried away in the corner! He played a lot of international rugby and that’s the way he plays. “He’s abrasive. He trains very hard and looks after himself very well. The pressure he puts on his body, even with just how professional he is, away from the rugby field, it’s probably taken its toll a bit.” Warburton, whose last game was in the drawn British and Irish Lions series with New Zealand a little under a year ago, has remained in front of the cameras but as a pundit. His engaging delivery and incredible knowledge has seen him take to television work in rapid fashion, with many, including BT Sports rugby commentator Nick Mullins, suggesting broadcasters will be fighting for his signature to open the door to his next career move.
Cooper-Woolley, who played 27 topflight matches for Wasps at the demanding position of tighthead prop last season, believes Warburton has made the right call for his longer-term wellbeing.
He said: “It’s a decision for the rest of his life rather than keep putting himself through that, rather than keep having spells out injured, then going away with Wales playing six to eight weeks of super intense rugby, not feeling too great afterwards and not too great for his longevity.
“While rugby is amazing and we all love it, it’s a great way to earn a living, there’s also a dawning reality, that even if you get to 35, great, but then it stops you’ve got a whole another life in front of you.
“He’s segued off into doing other things and maybe thought, yeah, it’s been great, I would rather not call it a day, but for the betterment of my family and my life, it’s time to call it a day and move on to other things.”