Thanks for the glory days, Captain Sam

YOU only have to look at social media and see all the tributes and acclaim from fellow rugby players and peers to see that Sam Warburton is held in the very highest regard

While never giving less than 100% effort, Sam always played fair and never threw a punch in anger, to my knowledge. After captaining Wales to two magnificent Six Nations titles, including the 2012 Grand Slam, and then captaining the British & Irish Lions to victory in Australia and an exciting drawn series in New Zealand, he has proved that nice guys can become legends and winners, while also being the perfect role model both for aspiring young players.

Sam was the epitome of the perfect modern-day flanker, superb in attack and defence, while also seemingly always knowing the right decisions to take as captain.

My son Dan and I were fortunate enough to see him play on dozens of occasions for Wales at our theatre of dreams in Cardiff, and have countless memories of his excellence.

One in particular stands out, however, and that is his break from just outside our 22 with 15 minutes to go in the Six Nations decider against England in 2013.

With the score at 20-3, some of us in the stands were still worried England might somehow mount a late onslaught. Sam’s 40-metre carry changed all that and, although he was finally tackled in their half, the Welsh support managed to put Alex Cuthbert over in the corner for our second try, and we knew we could finally relax and start celebrating a comprehensive defeat of the old enemy, and a consecutive Six Nations title, led as always by our Captain Fantastic from the front.

Thanks for the glorious memories, Sam! R Terry James Brentwood, Essex