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Sam Warburton turned down the chance to double his money in France in order to stay in Wales by signing a ground-breaking WRU central contract.

The Wales and Lions skipper yesterday became the first player to sign a deal with the Welsh Rugby Union, agreeing a three-year package.

It's now emerged he did this after twice rejecting £700,000-a-year offers from big-spending French clubs.

It's understood he had already turned down one such bid from Stade Francais and last week he rejected another from Toulon after the European champions came back in for him following their failure to secure Ireland back rower Sean O'Brien.

Warburton's agent Derwyn Jones says signing a WRU central contract was the only way the 25-year-old flanker could stay in Wales - and ideally carry on playing for the Blues - which has been his desire all along.

The WRU have declared their intention is to release the player back to the Blues free of charge next season when he is not on international duty.

That situation is complicated by the fact that the regions maintain they will not play centrally contracted players unless a new Participation Agreement is in place with the Union.

But Jones insists Warburton had to move now to secure his future after putting his decision on hold for months amid the ongoing dispute between the regions and the WRU.

Click here: Cardiff Blues condemn Twitter abuse

The former Wales second row has decided to speak out in the wake of the abuse Warburton has been receiving from some quarters on social media since signing his central contract.

"Some of the uninformed vitriol aimed at my client Sam Warburton since yesterday's WRU press announcement has been disgraceful. I feel compelled to set the record straight," said Jones.

"I cannot comment on many aspects of Sam's contract negotiation process due to client confidentiality, but the broad facts up until now are as follows.

"Cardiff Blues and the WRU could not table a joint offer for Sam because of the current political fallout between the Welsh Regions and the WRU.

"Cardiff Blues alone could not give Sam a market value contract offer due to the uncertain future of the game in Wales, they also could not offer this to Leigh Halfpenny who has since signed for Toulon.

"Sam was faced with the following 2 options regarding his playing future:

"1. Pursue interest from 2 teams in the French Top 14 at twice his UK market value

"2. Sign a three year employment contract with the WRU to stay in Wales at his UK market value

"Sam has decided to accept the very generous and fair offer from the WRU because he is currently Wales captain. Like all of his fellow Welsh internationals he is honoured every time he pulls on the red jersey of Wales and he loves his country.

"He also loves Cardiff, he lives in Cardiff and he hopes to continue to play for Cardiff Blues - the WRU and Sam have prioritised this during the negotiation process.

"At this time however, due to the current fallout between the regions and the WRU, there are no cast iron guarantees that Sam will be able play for Cardiff next season.

"Sam wants to stay in Wales and intends to play for Cardiff Blues next season should all the issues be resolved, but if he had moved to France there would have been absolutely no chance of him playing for the team he has supported since he was a young boy.

"He also prefers staying in Wales over moving to France as he is passionate about maintaining the Wales captaincy. Sam appreciates that playing for Wales is a privileged position and does not, in any way, take this for granted.

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"Professional rugby players have a relatively short career in the sport. Many of these players will play for a Welsh team throughout their careers, some will go abroad to play, these decisions are often difficult and complex but each individual will have a valid reason for doing so - this is their right.

"Sam Warburton was out of contract at the end of this season, he had been debating his future for the past 12 months and had an immediate decision to make due to set deadlines - stay in Wales or leave; his decision was to stay in Wales.

"Freedom of speech gives the rugby public every right to judge Sam Warburton as a player, but please don't doubt his integrity as a man."