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Sam Warburton received death threat

16 Oct 2018

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton (Getty Images)

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has revealed in a podcast with BBC he received a death threat following his red card in the 2011 Rugby World Cup semifinal at Eden Park.

The then 23-year-old flanker was sent off early for a tip tackle on French winger Vincent Clerc, reducing Wales to 14-men for the remainder of the match. France would go on to win the match 9-8 in a tight affair and face the All Blacks in the final.

Sam Warburton of Wales up ends Vincent Clerc of France during semi final one of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Although most of the reaction was supportive of Warburton, a few supporters pinned blame on the young flanker and one went as far as sending a death threat.

“I got a death threat sent to the house,” Warburton explained.

“Well, they sent it to the Cardiff Blues and they obviously didn’t know what was in it.

“People write to the WRU [Welsh Rugby Union] or the Blues because they know the address and then the Blues might send you an elastic band’s worth of about 10 letters.

“I opened up one and there were skulls and coffins on it, there were drawings saying what would happen if I ever went out of the house.

The threat didn’t phase the Welsh captain, with the overzealous nature of the letter failing to scare.

“It was so over the top that I thought it was a bit of a joke and it didn’t bother me. But that was the only bad thing I got.”

Warburton, who retired in June at age 29 over concerns of his long-term health, said he received overwhelmingly positive support following the World Cup.

“I was in a supermarket late at night and middle-aged women were coming up and hugging me.

“Then there were cars pulling up outside my house – it was obviously kids realising where I lived – and they were blasting out the ‘Sam our Captain’ song.

“I was getting a massive amount of support and it did soften the blow.”

Warburton went on to captain Wales 49 times in 74 games for his country, as well as captaining the British & Irish Lions on two tours, beating Australia 2-1 in 2013 and drawing with New Zealand 1-1 last year. The final drawn test at Eden Park ended up being his last ever test match.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 20 days ago

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Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

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James 20 days ago

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And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

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dw 20 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

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dw 20 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

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dw 20 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

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RedWarriors 20 days ago

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I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

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JM 20 days ago

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Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

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I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

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RedWarriors 20 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

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OJohn 20 days ago

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Carlos 20 days ago

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Carlos 20 days ago

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Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

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Solenn Bonnet 20 days ago

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Mzilikazi 20 days ago

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Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

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Mzilikazi 20 days ago

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Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

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Mzilikazi 20 days ago

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BC 20 days ago

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Otagoman II 20 days ago

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NB 20 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍