Generous Lion Sam donates his kit to city charity shop

CAPTAINING the Lions is an honour that brings with it a treasure trove of unique and incredible mementos, and you could certainly understand why most players would be keen to hold on to as many of them as possible.

But rather than keep his stash of Lions memorabilia to himself, Sam Warburton is keen to share memories of a test series that is sure to be talked about by fans and players alike for years to come.

The Blues flanker turned up at the Tenovus Cancer Care charity shop in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, with a healthy collection of goodies from the tour in New Zealand, as well as some acquired during his time at the Arms Park.

The 28-year-old is a patron of the charity, and last year raised £2,000 through donating his old shirts and kit.

Those items sold out quickly, but this year’s contribution is likely to receive even greater interest, due to the Lions’ exploits in New Zealand earlier in the summer.

In a picture posted on Twitter, it’s possible to make out a Lions polo shirt and his personalised bag, which looks to be brimming with potential goodies.

Each Lions player received a remarkable 64 pieces of clothing and accessories on the tour, including 28 made-to-measure items of formal wear from Thomas Pink.

The full cost of the formal haul was reported to be about £2,500 per man, with the most expensive item a £595 velvet jacket.