My Experience: Wales legend Sam Warburton hosts 2026 Six Nations kick-off event in local Cardiff pub

The Crwys Pub was already pumping with excitement when I arrived, with everyone being given a token for a complimentary pint of Guinness. When I walked in, Warburton could be seen talking to a camera on the far side of the room before he disappeared to make his grand entrance.

A section of the pub had been arranged to make space for a makeshift stage with a table, two chairs, and a projector displaying a mid-game shot of the star of the evening on the backdrop. Welsh rugby and British & Irish Lions fans eagerly crammed in and took their seats, many wearing their rugby jerseys, beaming excitedly. The room buzzed with conversation and people sharing stories.

When asked by the interviewer, many raised their hands to say they had previously met Warburton but had bought tickets to the sold-out event for the chance to hear him speak and meet him again. As the host said the introduction, and Warburton humbly zig-zagged his way through the crowd, the room clapped and cheered him onto the stage.

Warburton was the youngest player to ever captain a side in a Rugby World Cup match, doing so for Wales at the age of 22 and captained Wales 49 times by the time he retired in 2018. The Cardiff local led the British & Irish Lions to back-to-back Six Nations titles and played for the Cardiff Blues throughout his career.

As he took his seat, the room quietened into silent admiration, and the interview began, with intermittent chirps from the crowd for Warburton to return to the team. He shared his thoughts on Wales's outlook in the upcoming tournament and gave the audience a glimpse of the hope they had been hoping for.

His accounts of growing up and training towards his dream of playing for his country gave an insight into the toughness, determination and pride one can only assume the current national team have spurring them on. Despite a recent long losing streak and previously taking home back-to-back wooden spoons from the Six Nations in 2024 and 2025, Warburton said the older players in the team shouldn’t be underestimated.

The ex-flanker opened up about the joys of fatherhood and coaching his son’s team, and the ways in which he still tries to be involved with Cardiff Rugby. After a short break, the mic was passed to the crowd, and together the room reminisced about watching Warburton play for Wales, with one woman even requesting that he have a coaching session with her grandsons.

Warburton answered questions about the WRU and their plans to cut down the regional teams and offered his opinions on how to improve the current setup and situation. Alongside this, he laughed with the crowd over one individual beating his squat record at Whitchurch High School and even told a ghost story.

After receiving a final applause, Warburton was led to the other side of the pub, where a photo area had been set up for him to meet and greet fans and sign autograph cards that had been laid out around the pub. By the time I left the pub after Warburton smiled for a photo and gave me his autograph, the queue was wrapping around the bar, and every single person at the event was waiting in line.