British & Irish Lions flanker Sam Warburton says he doesn’t take the Wales captaincy for granted after watching his deputy, Alun Wyn Jones, impress in the role against South Africa.
Warburton, who also skippered the Lions on their triumphant tour of Australia last summer, missed the two-Test series against the Springboks with a shoulder injury.
Wales lost both Tests, including a last-gasp 31-30 defeat on Saturday, but Jones, himself a Lion, emerged with a lot of credit as stand-in skipper.
And Warburton admits that with the battle for the captain’s armband now being wide open, he must focus on his club performances.
"I never, ever expect that the captaincy is set in stone,” he told the South Wales Evening Post.
“When we have the team announcement the players all find out via text about noon, and that's when I always find out about the captaincy.
"I never pre-empt anything. I couldn't walk down the street and call myself captain of Wales now. I have to wait until the next series.
"I guess that's open now. I'll just return to the Blues now, train really hard – I'm really enjoying being back in pre-season.
"Hopefully, I'll come to play in September in the best shape I've been in since the World Cup of 2011 and I'll get some good performances under my belt."
