Business of Sport Ep.22: Sam Warburton, Fmr Wales & British & Irish Lions Captain, ‘Leadership is about showing the way’

Today, we are delighted to welcome rugby union legend Sam Warburton to the show. At 22, Sam was made captain of Wales, becoming the 3rd youngest captain in their history. He oversaw one of the most successful periods in Welsh rugby, winning the 6 Nations twice including a historic Grand Slam in 2012, while also guiding them to a World Cup semi-final in 2011. 

He also became the youngest captain of the British and Irish Lions for their 2013 tour of Australia, delivering a first series win since 1997. When named captain for the tour of New Zealand four years later, he became only the second person after Martin Johnson to lead the side on two tours.

Sam retired at 29, having been blighted by injuries resulting from a relentless style of play. A career in the media, alongside a number of business ventures has followed, but the values he stood for on the pitch and the mentality adopted to succeed are the epitome of the transferable values athletes bring away from performance.

We discuss:

The making of leaders:

• Leadership comes in many forms. What is Sam’s experience of captaincy and the importance of a tailored approach?
• A reluctant leader? There were players with 100 caps and 10 years more experience, but Warren Gatland made a 22 years old flanker his captain. Why?
• How success can depend on the people you surround yourself with. 
• What were the tactics Sam used to get the best out of his players. It is not a one size fits all approach; you need to have different strategies for different personalities.
• The honour of being captain of your country and The Lions and how that influenced how Sam played his game.
• The value of perspective. Realising what is important and when to contextualise what happens in sport. 

Wales & The Lions:

• Grand Slams, World Cups, two British & Irish Lions tours, Sam was a staple on rugby’s biggest stages. What were these occasions like to play in?
• The success Wales achieved under his leadership is well documented. How was that curated from boardroom to dressing room? 
• Sam’s infamous semi-final red card in the 2011 World Cup and the fear it would be his ‘Beckham moment’, but the reality was very different!
• The Lions was the pinnacle. What did it mean to pull on that number 7 jersey for the first time?
• How the physical demands of international rugby meant he had to adapt his approach to playing for Cardiff Blues.

The wider rugby landscape:

• The success of international rugby carries the game. We need to find a way to elevate the importance of the club competitions. How?
• Would promotion and relegation be good for The Six Nations? What are the arguments for and against this initiative?
• The pressures of playing sport in the era of social media bring a different set of challenges. You need to block out the noise and focus on your game, not what people are saying about you. 
• Why Owen Farrell moving to France is a good thing for his game.
• Welsh rugby is the pride of the country, and the system needs to reflect that in the quality of its product. What would Sam do to elevate the game in Wales? 

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