THANK YOU SAM
SAM Warburton’s decision to quit rugby immediately perhaps hasn’t shocked those who have treated his bruised and battered body for close on 11 years.
Medical problems in high octane collisions are part of parcel of rugby these days.
But the Wales and Lions skipper has had more than his fair share in putting his body on the line time and time again in the ferocious breakdown area.
In all he’s had a plate inserted into his jaw, two knee operations, two shoulder surgeries and been under knife for a neck problem as well as having an 8cm tear in his hamstring and various episodes of shoulder nerve damage.
It’s all added up to 20 major injuries during his stellar career.
Here, we outline the full, often bone-crunching details of all Warburton’s knocks down the years that’s finally took it’s toll on the back-rower...
WARBURTON INJURY LIST Late 2007 - Hamstring damage
As an up-and-coming youngster learning his trade with Glamorgan Wanderers, the teenage Warburton suffered a hamstring injury which was to keep him out of the whole of Wales’ 2008 U20s Six Nations campaign.
Autumn 2008 - Torn shoulder ligaments
Having skippered Wales U20s to the semi-final of the Junior World Cup from No 8 in the summer, he was then consigned to some five months on the sidelines after tearing ACJ shoulder ligaments while training.
June 2010 - Broken jaw
On just his third start for his country, the young flanker broke his jaw in the end of season international against South Africa, which required an operation to insert a plate and meant him missing the summer tour of New Zealand.
March 2011 - Knee injury
Having established himself as the successor to Martyn Williams as Wales’ openside, Warburton started all five matches during the 2011 Six Nations only to hobble out of the final match against France early on with a knee problem.
February 2012 - Dead leg
It was to be an injury-strewn Six Nations for the now Wales skipper during the 2012 Grand Slam campaign, starting off with a dead leg in the Dublin opener versus Ireland which kept him out of the next game against Scotland.
February 2012 - Knee ligament sprain
Having recovered to face England at Twickenham, Warburton produced one of the performances of his career as the Triple Crown was secured, which was all the more notable as he picked up a medial knee ligament sprain during the game.
March 2012 - Shoulder nerve damage
After sitting out the Italy match, the skipper was back for the Grand Slam clincher against France, only to end up lifting the trophy with one arm lying immobile at his side having sustained nerve damage to his right shoulder. Three months out.
October 2012 - Dislocated finger
Warburton’s Twitter feed wasn’t for the faint hearted after he dislocated the middle finger on his left hand during the Blues’ Euro clash with Sale at the Salford City Stadium, as he posted a stomach-churning picture of his X-ray.
February 2013 - Shoulder stinger
Picking up stingers was an occupational hazard for Warburton given the battering he took over the ball at the breakdown and in the tackle. This bang to his shoulder against Ireland kept him out of the following week’s trip to Paris.
June 2013 - Torn hamstring
Handed the Lions captaincy for the 2013 tour of Australia, led by example with an immense display in the second Test in Melbourne only to be forced off late on after suffering an 8cm tear in his hamstring, which kept him out for three months.
December 2013 - Shoulder nerve damage
The stinger he suffered to his shoulder against Australia in Cardiff added further pain on a frustrating day when Wales went down to yet another narrow defeat to the Wallabies. Was to be sidelined until the start of the Six Nations.
March 2014 - Dislocated shoulder
Getting through a Six Nations campaign unscathed was becoming a problem for Warburton and in the final day rout of Scotland he sustained a dislocated right shoulder which was to rule him out of that summer’s tour of South Africa.
November 2014 - Shoulder stinger
Another day, another stinger. There was at least a memorable win to ease the pain, as the Warburton-led Wales ended their long wait for a victory over one of the southern hemisphere giants by beating the Springboks.
November 2015 - Ankle ligament
Warburton’s rivalry with fellow openside Justin Tipuric has been an ongoing saga and it was during a coming together between the pair in an Ospreys-Blues clash that the Wales skipper sustained ankle damage which meant a two month lay-off.
March 2016 - Concussion