Wales captain Sam Warburton has spoken of his delight at making his long awaited return to action following a shoulder injury.
The 25-year-old lasted 50 minutes in Cardiff Blues’ final preseason game against Leicester Tigers, the Welsh region going down 21-17.
The flanker had not featured for club or country since dislocating his shoulder in Wales’ final game of the 2014 RBS 6 Nations against Scotland in March.
And Warburton was happy with how he had performed after so long out of the game.
“It’s been five months out so I’m delighted to be back…I felt like a dog let off the leash,” he told the Cardiff Blues official website.
“In the dressing room I was pumped up and couldn’t wait to get back out there and make some tackles. It was great to be back out on the pitch with the Blues and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I was pleased on a personal level. The first game back is always difficult, from a timing perspective at the breakdown, but I got a turnover and some of the work in the tackle was good.
“My contribution in the ruck area too was pleasing, I got through some work so I’m happy.
“I wasn’t sure how long I would play as this game was always pencilled in to be my first back. Mark (Hammett) told me early in the week he wanted me to play 50 minutes which is good because you go hard for 40 and then empty the tank after half-time.
“It was a perfect introduction back and we take the positives as a team and I take confidence into next week.”
Visit our official RBS 6 Nations Instagram page to follow all the best images from the Championship
