Warburton to lean heavily on Irish totems

Sam Warburton became the youngest Lions captain in nearly 60 years and admitted he would be silly to ignore the experience of his two immediate predecessors Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll during this summer’s tour to Australia.

Warburton, who will be 24 years and 244 days old when the tour kicks off against the Barbarians in Hong Kong a month from today, is the youngest captain since Ireland’s Robin Thompson led the 1955 Lions, completing a remarkable rise to the most coveted playing honour in the four nations.

Just four years ago, as O’Connell was captaining the Lions in South Africa, back rower Warburton was part of a Wales development squad touring North America, making his Test debut against the USA in Chicago in June 2009.