No One Saw This Coming – Sam Warburton Resigns With Immediate Effect

Thursday, 10 April 2025 at 07:25

byRugby Rucker

– and his picks are bound to raise a few eyebrows.

Sam Warburton has sensationally stepped down from his position on the Cardiff Rugby board, according to
The Times—the very paper where he pens his own column.

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Why did Warburton quit?

The former Wales and Lions captain reportedly left the role two weeks ago to focus on building his media career and expanding his fitness brand, SW7. His exit appears to be a personal decision, not one linked to the club’s worsening financial situation.

Cardiff’s crisis deepens

Warburton’s departure comes at a turbulent time for Cardiff Rugby, who officially entered administration this week. With the Welsh Rugby Union now poised to step in and take control, the entire board—Warburton’s old colleagues—could soon be out the door.

Warburton's second stint ends quietly

Warburton had been a key voice at the top since August 2023, having previously taken on a short-lived gig as a rugby advisor. His influence behind the scenes was seen as a major win for Cardiff at the time.

What happens next for Cardiff?

With PricewaterhouseCoopers believed to be handling the administration process, Cardiff’s future is now hanging in the balance. The WRU are working on a deal, but whether fresh investors will eventually return the historic club to private ownership remains to be seen.

Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions

Wales legend Dan Biggar has officially called time on his playing career, but not before dropping a blockbuster British & Irish Lions XV on The Rugby Pod

The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton’s podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there's no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.

Here’s how Biggar’s team shaped up…

Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong

It’s an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster's dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.

Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne

4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne

England’s Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He’s paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.

Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)

6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England’s Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland’s Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who’s fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.

Livewire half-backs: Gibson-Park & Russell

9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell

Gone are the days of conservative Lions 9-10 combos. Biggar’s gone full jazz here. Gibson-Park brings the zip, and Russell… well, Russell brings the flair. The Scotland maestro’s creativity earns him the No.10 jersey over Biggar himself – no ego here.

Fire on the flanks: Lowe & Kinghorn

11. James Lowe
14. Blair Kinghorn

Two versatile Scots fill the wing slots, with Kinghorn’s blend of size and speed complementing Lowe’s relentless work rate and booming left boot. Biggar clearly values adaptability out wide – and a bit of flair never hurts.

Caledonian connection in midfield: Tuipulotu & Jones

12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones

The Glasgow Warriors pairing have formed one of the deadliest centre combos in rugby, and Biggar’s kept them together. It’s a bold call, but one based on form and synergy rather than reputation alone.

Rock-solid fullback: Hugo Keenan

15. Hugo Keenan

No surprise here – Keenan has been Ireland’s Mr Consistent, and Biggar trusts him to be the safety net at the back. His positioning, aerial ability and counter-attacks make him a nailed-on pick.

The bench: a mix of muscle and mischief

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Zander Fagerson, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith

It’s a stacked bench with serious impact. Genge and Fagerson bring brute force, while Earl and Morgan cover the back row with pace and punch. Marcus Smith adds some stardust, and Mitchell offers serious tempo at scrum-half.