BRITISH AND IRISH Lions captain Sam Warburton topped the sporting stars who featured in Britain’s traditional New Year Honours list announced late on Friday.
The 29-year-old captained the Lions in a 1-1 series draw with rugby union world champions New Zealand in June and July, having also skippered the Lions in their 2-1 series win over Australia in 2013.
He received the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and his award will come as a welcome fillip with the Welsh back row forward recovering from neck surgery.
England’s women’s cricket World Cup-winning team were also recognised, including captain Heather Knight, who like Warburton was awarded an OBE.
The 27-year-old confessed to being “blown away” by the “massive honour”.
“When I was a young girl playing cricket for my brother’s team in Plymouth, I couldn’t have imagined that one day I would get an honour for captaining my country to a successful World Cup,” said Knight, whose team beat India in the final at Lord’s.
“It just shows what’s possible, and hopefully young girls pursuing sport today will see that it can take you places.”
Coach Mark Robinson also picked up an OBE while two other players, Anya Shrubsole and Tammy Beaumont, were made Members of the British Empire (MBE).
Warburton was not the only rugby personality to pick up an award as legendary Scotland prop Ian McLauchlan was awarded an OBE.
Now 75, McLauchlan, known as ‘Mighty Mouse’, is regarded as one of the finest props of all time, earning eight Lions caps and 43 for his country. He captained Scotland 19 times.
Iconic 67-year-old horse racing trainer Nicky Henderson — fresh from his Mighty Bite winning the prestigious King George VI steeplechase on Tuesday — was made a Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant (LVO).
Recipients of Britain’s famous honours system are chosen twice a year, on the Queen’s birthday and ahead of the new year.
Anybody can nominate someone for one of the various accolades, which range from peerages to knighthoods and CBEs honouring national or regional roles, to OBEs and MBEs aimed at more local achievements.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Cant wait for the next bit of British Monarchy news!!! Great.
@Patrick McHugh: why not? The42, like all mainstream Irish publications or media outlets, heavily reports on the form, fortunes and results of British football clubs. Endless pieces of Mourinho complaining about City’s spending, Klopp talking about referees or whatever other banal story makes the news this week. Go to Off The Ball’s podcasts and 70% of the material is English football. So why shouldn’t the42 report this? Irish audiences already consume a ridiculous amount of British sports news.
@grandslamkbo: Well said.
Shite like the original post is akin to the idiot protesting against British sports being played in Croke Park, while wearing a Celtic jersey.
@MK76: case in point being the story about Pep managing United. All the lads on there agreeing or offering an opinion of some sort. But this news item is sad. The majority of them just…don’t….get it!
Sad news?? Why is this even news!!!
Sad news…..
He didn’t deserve to make the lions tour, let alone captain it. All thanks to uncle Warren. Neither of them will be on the next tour
Cardiff Blues legend…
I’m just here for all the posts from people with an axe to grind
Well its not for his displays in 2017 cause he only played very few games!!
@Justin Flynn: What? He managed to secure a draw for the British Empire against an excellent colony team. Cant ask for much more than that
@beni gabor: almost forgot about that!!