Sam bags OBE for Lions duty

SAM WARBURTON leads a swathe of sporting stars to receive awards in the New Year’s Honours list for 2018.

The Lions captain receives an OBE after the Welshman led the tourists to a series draw against New Zealand in the summer.

Warburton, 29, is out injured after neck and knee surgery and will not have the chance to add to his 74 Wales caps until next season.

The flanker started the final two Tests for the Lions against New Zealand, when they won in Wellington and drew in Auckland. England Women cricket skipper

HEATHER KNIGHT, 27, also receives an OBE after lifting the World Cup at Lord’s in July. Her team- mates ANYA

SHRUBSOLE, 26, who took six for 46 against India, the best- ever figures in a final, and top runsscorer TAMMY BEAUMONT, 26, are awarded MBEs. Their 51-year- old coach MARK

ROBINSON collects an OBE while ECB director of women’s cricket

CLARE CONNOR becomes a CBE, having previously been awarded an OBE.

Manchester United’s ‘ Class of 92’ coach, 79- year- old ERIC

HARRISON, who developed Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, receives an MBE.

In rugby union, there are also OBEs for IAN McLAUCHLAN, the 75- year- old former Scotland captain, and ED MORRISON, 66, the first professional English referee.

Paralympian STEF REID, 33, a silver medallist at the London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics in the F44 long jump, is handed an MBE and so is Dr JAMES ROBSON, 59, the former Lions and Scotland rugby union team doctor.

NICKY HENDERSON, 67, the prominent jump racing trainer, has been made a Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant (LVO).