Sam Kennedy-Warburton (born 5 October 1988), known as Sam Warburton, is a Welsh international rugby union player. Warburton plays rugby for the Cardiff Blues and was first capped for Wales in 2009. He plays as an openside flanker but is also can play blindside. In June 2011, he was named as Wales captain versus the Barbarians and in August 2011 he was named as the Wales captain for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In April 2013, he was named the British and Irish Lions captain for the 2013 tour to Australia, and was also named as captain for the 2017 tour to New Zealand Warburton holds the record for the most Wales caps as captain.