Available to book
Sam Warburton
Effective Leadership
Team Building
High Performance
Transform team performance with Sam Warburton OBE, speaker and former Wales rugby captain. Sam works with organisations to develop leadership excellence and high-performing teams, delivering actionable insights from his experience leading the British and Irish Lions.
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Sam Warburton, OBE, is a former Welsh international rugby union player known for his significant contributions to the sport. He played primarily as an openside flanker for Cardiff Rugby and earned multiple caps for the Wales national team and the British and Irish Lions.
Warburton began his rugby career at Rhiwbina RFC and Glamorgan Wanderers RFC, progressing through the junior ranks to captain the Wales under-18, under-19, and under-20 teams, leading them to the semi-finals of the World Championships.
Sam made his senior debut for Wales in 2009 and was appointed captain for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, making history as the youngest captain in the tournament's history. He also captained the Lions during their tours to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017, further establishing his leadership credentials. He retired in 2018 as the most capped Wales captain, with 49 caps, a record later surpassed by Alun Wyn Jones.
Following his retirement, Sam transitioned into punditry, providing insights for the BBC and TNT Sports. He has also co-founded the SW7 Academy, a fitness app aimed at helping individuals train like professionals. His expertise in rugby has made him a sought-after keynote speaker, where he shares lessons on leadership, teamwork, and performance. His talks draw on his experiences in elite sports, offering actionable insights for businesses.
Sam's contributions to rugby have been recognised with an Honorary Fellowship from the University of South Wales and an OBE in the 2018 New Year Honours List. He is married to Rachel Thomas and is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur FC. Through his career and subsequent roles, Sam continues to inspire the next generation of athletes and leaders.
Book Sam Warburton as a speaker to inspire your team with unparalleled leadership insights from a record-breaking rugby legend. His exceptional communication skills and real-world experiences will motivate your workforce to achieve peak performance. Elevate your event with lessons on teamwork, success, and dedication from one of rugby's most respected figures.
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frequently asked questions
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Email sam.warburton@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Sam's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Sam Warburton draws on first-hand experience from elite rugby — including captaining Wales and the British and Irish Lions — to deliver talks structured around leadership, teamwork, and performance, with actionable insights framed for business audiences.
Sam Warburton OBE speaks on leadership, team building, and high performance, drawing on his career as a professional rugby union player. He captained Wales at the 2011 Rugby World Cup as the youngest captain in the tournament's history and led the British and Irish Lions on tours to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017, retiring as Wales' most capped captain with 49 caps.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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