Captains with Sam Warburton

Sam is joined once again by the writer and political strategist, Alastair Campbell.  Alastair is the co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast but is perhaps best known from his time as ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications & strategy when he was in power.  In this episode, we look at managing crises. Alastair talks about embracing the pressure of k...

Sam is joined this episode by one of the biggest names in British politics, Alastair Campbell. Alastair is the co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast but is perhaps best known from his time as ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications & strategy when he was in power. In this episode, we examine the crossover between politics and sport. Alastair expla...

This week on Captains, Sam is joined by former World, European and Commonwealth Champion in the 400m hurdles, Dai Greene. Dai was also Team GB athletics captain at the London 2012 Olympics.   Dai talks all about his memories of that summer and how he was able to lead the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sir Mo Farah, as well talking about the benefits of training with the right people - even if you...

This week on Captains, Sam is joined by former Wales football captain Ashley Williams.  Ashley was the skipper as Wales defied the odds to reach the semi-final of Euro 2016. Under the management of Chris Coleman, Ashley captained the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey and here he lifts the lid on the bonds that made that team so special.  Sam & Ashley compare notes about playing England, how to...

With the new NFL season underway, Sam is joined by two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora.  Osi is an award-winning pundit and an NFL icon and here he breaks down the mindset required to lead and succeed in America’s Game.  One common theme is the importance of good communication and in this episode Osi compares the different styles of legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady and Eli Manning, as well as...

Sam Warburton is joined this episode by his old friend - and rival - former Scotland rugby captain John Barclay.  John represented Scotland at three World Cups, earning 76 caps in total after making his debut against the All Blacks in 2007. At club level, John played for Glasgow Warriors before making the move south to the Scarlets where he led them to the Pro 14 title in 2017.  John reflects on t...

Sam Warburton is joined by his former Wales coach Shaun Edwards; a legend of Rugby League and current France defence coach.  This is Part Two. If you haven't already, go back and listen to Part One.  In this episode, Shaun breaks down his coaching philosophy and discusses his working relationship with Warren Gatland.  Shaun has a reputation as a visionary coach but perhaps his greatest strength is...

Captains is back! Sam Warburton is joined by his former Wales coach Shaun Edwards; a legend of Rugby League and current France defence coach. An incredibly successful leader from a very young age, Shaun explains how his upbringing in Wigan shaped his outlook on life and that a fear of going down the pit inspired him great things as a player and coach. With the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, Shaun...

This week on Captains, Sam delves into the archive to reflect on some of his favourite conversations from the series. Sam has been joined by a different world-class sporting leader each week to compare notes, relive those life changing moments and share stories about what it’s really like to wear the armband at sport’s highest level. Olympic heroes, World Cup winners, Ryder Cup winners, Premier Le...

Welcome to The Huddle. These are bonus episodes released every week – and this is a taster of some of Sam’s favourite conversations. Each week Sam catches up with writer and broadcaster Tom Fordyce to break down some of the leadership skills he learnt during his career that have helped in life on and off the pitch.  Sam uses examples from his experience of captaining Wales and the British & Irish...

Sam’s guest this week is a double Olympic gold medallist, the President of World Athletics but perhaps best known as the man who delivered London 2012.  Lord Coe breaks down the importance of building world class teams with a shared vision, something he experienced in the build-up to the Games. The pair discuss the need to create an environment where people can flourish and, crucially, able to cha...

Sam’s guest this week is Man City Women’s captain and former England skipper Steph Houghton.  A hugely influential figure in the growth of women’s football over the last decade, Steph talks openly about how she dealt with the disappointment of missing out on the Lionesses historic Euro 2022 win.  The pair also reflect on trying to influence a group while on the sidelines and lessons learned on tak...

This week on Captains Sam is joined by Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy. The Team GB flag-bearer at London 2012, Chris is the most successful track cyclist ever, with six Olympic Gold medals and eleven World Championship titles to his name. The pair discuss the power of visualisation and compare how they each used it during their careers. Chris’s achievements owe a lot to his mindset but, as he explai...

“I was deeply lost in my own issues and as a result I was not a good captain.” This week Sam is joined by one of sport’s most recognisable names, English rugby icon and World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson.  The pair reflect on the price of success in an intense environment and how the impact of your actions can have long-lasting effects – both positive and negative - on you and your surroundings. The...

“I’ve never once tried to make an excuse for any of my behaviours in the past. The hardest part is owning who you actually are.” This week on Captains Sam is joined by Troy Deeney. The Birmingham City captain opens up about his tough upbringing and discusses how those early life-changing experiences - including a prison sentence - helped shaped his leadership style later in his career. Having capt...

This week Sam is joined by professional cyclist and Ineos Grenadiers road captain Luke Rowe. Luke breaks down one of sport’s most misunderstood roles, highlighting the importance of communication and organisation with teammates while out on the road in high-pressure race conditions. Loyalty is a theme that runs throughout and Luke talks openly about how he dealt with the disappointment of being di...

“What motivates and excites people is passion. You’ve got to give a sh*t about what you’re doing!” This week Sam’s guest is former England and Great Britain captain, Rugby League legend Jamie Peacock. One of the most successful and decorated forwards to ever play the game, Jamie reflects on his time at Bradford Bulls, his move to bitter rivals Leeds Rhinos, and outlines his really strong and clear...

This week Sam is joined by former England netball captain Serena Guthrie. A legend of the sport with over 100 caps to her name, Serena reflects on her leadership journey; from starting out aged 16 at Bath to leading England out at a home World Cup. Authenticity and honesty are key pillars to Serena’s captaincy style as well as being aware of the importance of leaving a positive legacy - there are...

Advice for modern managers? Just win! Sam’s guest this week is one of the most respected names in football, Martin O’Neill. A European Cup winner as a player, he led Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup before winning trophies in England and Scotland as a manager. Martin reflects on how leadership – both captaincy and management – has evolved during his career and discusses what traits he looked...

This week Sam is joined by Rugby World Cup winner and former All Blacks captain, Kieran Read. Kieran explains how a criminal psychologist helped him and his New Zealand team-mates deal with high pressure situations; the pair compare notes about leading rugby obsessed nations they reflect on sharing one of the sport's most iconic moments in recent memory; their joint trophy lift in the 2017 Lions s...

You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry… This week Sam’s guest is one of Britain’s greatest ever Olympians, Sir Ben Ainslie. Ben reflects on his incredible sailing career and the learnings he has taken into his current role as CEO, Team Principal and Skipper of Ineos Britannia. There are some fascinating insights about Ben’s transition from the high seas to the boardroom and the struggles that come...

This week, Sam is joined by Wes Morgan as the pair look back on Leicester City’s 5000/1 Premier League title win in 2016. They discuss how to bring a group together to overachieve and highlight the importance of creating a sense of togetherness that all great teams have. Wes’s journey to the top took time and is a great study in that old cliché of never giving up. Share your thoughts with Sam on c...

“Make sure you’re the best at all the things that require no talent.” With the Six Nations around the corner, Sam is joined by one of his rugby idols – former Ireland and British & Irish Lions captain – Paul O’Connell. Paul explains that leadership is about how you make people feel and shares how to create an atmosphere where teams can flourish and why, as a leader, you must have a commitment to e...

How do you mastermind a Ryder Cup victory? In this episode Europe’s 2014 victorious captain Paul McGinley reveals all. Packed full of leadership insights, Sam and Paul discuss how to get a group of high performing individuals to come together as a team, why keeping things simple is key and, above all else, the power of positivity. As Paul mentions, leadership is not rocket science. You won’t want...

In this episode, Sam Warburton speaks with England’s Cricket World Cup winning captain, Heather Knight.  Heather shares the struggles she had to overcome to reach the pinnacle of the sport and help pioneer the women’s game. Heather and Sam discuss the similarities and differences between their sports, while breaking down the subtle complexities of captaining on and off the cricket pitch. Like Sam,...