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Warburton's Top 14 offer: 'It would have been 2 or 3 times what I was earning in Wales'
By Josh Raisey
Former Wales, and British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has revealed why he turned down a possible move to Toulon in 2013 despite being offered "two or three" times his salary in Wales.
Joining Mike Bubbins on the BBC's 'Scrum V Top 5', the Welsh great revealed how he flew out to Toulon shortly after being named Lions captain.
While the wheels were in motion over a move to the Cote d'Azur for the flanker, he revealed that he turned down the option as it was not his home, stating that he believed he would play better if he was at home.
The 74-cap Wales international added that he did not think it was a good look if the captain of Wales was playing in France "for more money", so he decided to remain with Cardiff until the end of his career.
Toulon, meanwhile, went on to win the Champions Cup later that year, the first of three in a row, while Warburton would lead the Lions to a series victory over Australia.
"In 2013, so when I was named Lions captain, I guess your stock is fairly high when you're a Lions captain, profile and stuff.
"That was when Toulon, they asked me to go out, just before they won three Champions Cups, they wanted me to go out and play seven. I remember I flew out there with my agent, stayed overnight, went out there, and I don't mind saying my take home would have been two or three times what I was earning in Wales.
"But I remember thinking, my wife rang me up when I was out there, she said 'how is it?' I said 'you've got to get me home'. She said 'what?' I said 'it's not Rhiwbina. It's not home, it's not home.'
"I always thought if I'm home, I'll play better, and I just love my home comforts and I'm very close with my family so I want to be close to my family. Plus, I was national captain, I didn't think it would look very good if I'd shot off to France for probably what would have been for more money.
"So I thought it's not the best thing for my career, I'll have more longevity if I stay at home, I want to be a one-club man at Cardiff. I was only ever going to play for Cardiff."
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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