Wales’ Rugby World Cup captain Sam Warburton has been named rugby personality of 2011 beating World Cup winning coach Graham Henry to the title.

rugbyweek

Warburton was presented with the Pat Marshall Trophy by last year’s winner, Maggie Alphonsi, at a dinner in London last night night.

Other contenders besides retired Wales winger and France captain Thierry Dusautoir to the award.

RUWC chairman Paul Morgan said, “Sam has had an exemplary year, leading Wales with great dignity, marking himself out as one of the leading candidates to captain the British and Irish Lions next year.”

“He joins an illustrious list of winners.”

While Warburton has joined an illustrious list of players this year his name was in the headlines last year when he was shown a red card in the Rugby World Cup semi-final against France.

The red card has caused much debate in the rugby world but it did not stop the rugby writers from making him their player of the year.

The Rugby Writers also gave their special award to Warburton’s predecessor in the back row Richard Parks after he climbed the highest peaks on seven continents and hiked to the North and South Poles, raising more than 1 million pounds for the Marie Curie Cancer charity.