Sam Warburton hailed on social media after announcing retirement from rugby

Former British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has announced his retirement from all forms of professional rugby at the age of 29.

Warburton, who won 74 caps for Wales and captained the Lions during tours of Australia and New Zealand in 2013 and 2017 respectively, has not played since the 1-1 drawn series against the All Blacks last summer after undergoing neck and knee surgery.

The announcement was made jointly by the Welsh Rugby Union and Warburton’s regional team Cardiff Blues.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at how social media reacted to Warburton’s decision.