Sam Warburton

Sam Warburton’s remarkable journey from international rugby player to keynote speaker is rooted in a legacy of leadership, high performance, and resilience cultivated through his elite sporting career. As an openside flanker, Sam led his teams on the field with a focus on teamwork and strategic excellence, values that now form the foundation of his speaking engagements.

Sam’s leadership journey began early. Playing for Rhiwbina RFC and Glamorgan Wanderers RFC and captaining Wales U18, U19, and U20 teams, Sam developed a reputation for inspiring his teammates and guiding them through high-stakes challenges, such as leading the U19 and U20 teams to World Championship semi-finals. By 2011, he earned the captaincy of the Welsh national team for the Rugby World Cup, and in 2013, at just 24, Sam became the youngest-ever captain of the British & Irish Lions, a prestigious role he held again in 2017. This historic achievement showcased his natural leadership, ability to manage pressure, and skill at bringing out the best in his teammates.

Throughout his career, Sam embodied the attributes that define high performance, resilience, and teamwork. His rigorous discipline, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence led him to break records, including becoming the most-capped Wales captain at the time, a feat later surpassed by Alun Wyn Jones. His professional journey did not end with retirement at the age of 29; instead, he transitioned seamlessly into roles that leveraged his in-depth understanding of high performance and teamwork. As a pundit for the BBC, a podcast host, and a columnist for The Times, Sam shared his experiences and insights, reinforcing his reputation as a thought leader in sports and business.

Sam’s post-retirement initiatives, such as co-founding the SW7 Academy, a fitness app designed to bring professional-level training to a broader audience, demonstrate his dedication to empowering others to reach their full potential. His decorated career, recognised with an OBE in 2018 and an Honorary Fellowship from the University of South Wales, equips him with unique perspectives on leadership and excellence, making him an influential speaker on achieving greatness in both sport and business.