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Sam Warburton is considering his future as Wales captain ahead of next month’s start of the Six Nations against Italy in Rome.

WalesOnline understands the back-row forward is contemplating handing in his notice as skipper so he can concentrate on his game and may also rule himself out of the running to lead the Lions into battle in New Zealand at the end of the season.

Warburton has skippered Wales a record 49 times, 16 more times than the previous best of 33 set by Ryan Jones, and been a magnificent ambassador for his country.

He was appointed ahead of the 2011 World Cup and was at his very best as he led Warren Gatland’s team to the semi-finals.

Back-to-back Six Nations titles followed and he was in charge when the Lions conquered Australia in 2013.

Wales reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup, losing narrowly to South Africa at Twickenham, but haven’t won any titles since the record 30-3 demolition of England in Cardiff three years ago.

It’s understood Warburton’s confidence has been sapped in recent times following a number of injuries and criticism on social media.

He has been thinking over the matter and whether he should continue having the added responsibility of leadership duties with his place at No.7 no longer guaranteed with Justin Tipuric and a host of other candidates breathing down his neck.

Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley named Warburton as captain for the autumn Test series but he was short of match fitness following injury and sat out the opening fixture roasting against Australia.

He returned for the victory over Argentina at the Principality Stadium the following weekend but elected not to skipper the team because he wanted to focus on his duties at flanker.

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Warburton led Wales to the narrow win over minnows Japan but missed the success over South Africa after picking up a shoulder injury in training.

Veteran prop Gethin Jenkins captained Wales against Australia and the Springboks but will miss the start of the Six Nations because of a chest injury.

Dan Lydiate, who has also led Wales, is out of the entire championship because of a serious knee injury with in-form Ospreys’ inspiration Alun Wyn Jones the only credible alternative to Warburton.

Lock rock Jones has led and galvanised Wales on previous occasions and also deputised for 69-times capped Warburton, who had suffered a hamstring injury, during the winning third Test decider with the Lions in Australia and is a real contender to skipper them against the All Blacks.

Former Wales international has tipped Warburton's Welsh teammate Jones to take over the Lions captaincy instead.

He said: “You talk about Lions captains and he looks like a guy that is ready and raring to go for that opportunity. He has been absolutely magnificent."

A poll conducted by Walesonline following the autumn series on who should captain Wales in the Six Nations saw 31-year-old Jones, who has been capped 105 times by Wales, receive 78% of the votes, Warburton 19% and Jenkins just under 3%.

There isn’t a guarantee Howley would retain Warburton as his skipper anyway – Wales pick their skipper for each fresh campaign – and the Cardiff Blues’ ace’s attitude has always been the team comes first and he never takes the honour for granted.

Wales enter the European title race as third favourites behind England and Ireland following an autumn campaign which may have brought three wins but was hardly inspiring.

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Warburton giving up the captaincy would allow Howley more freedom when it comes to selecting his back-row with a glut of riches at his disposal.

Critically, the 28-year-old can no longer be assured of a place in Wales’ starting line-up, with Tipuric wearing No.7 against Argentina and Warburton being switched out of position to blindside flanker.

Gatland, who is on a sabbatical with the Lions after being the architect of the best of British and Irish rugby’s series triumph in Australia, said before the 2015 World Cup: “Ever since Sam was offered the captaincy for the 2011 World Cup it hasn’t been about him but the team.

“If I say to him, ‘look Sam, I won’t pick you, I am picking Justin’, he will take that on the chin because the team comes first. That’s the measure of the man.”

During the 2013 Six Nations, Warburton was in charge for the loss to Ireland in Cardiff but missed the win over France through injury and came off the bench in Italy before starting against Scotland and England.

However, he declined the captaincy for those two fixtures, Ryan Jones in charge at Murrayfield and Jenkins when Wales ran amok against England a week later.

Should Warburton step down as captain, he will rightly be applauded as one of Wales’ finest leaders with hopefully more to come from him as a player.

Howley is due to name his squad and captain for the Six Nations later this month.