Eurosport's top 10 sporting moments

Sam Warburton sent off in the Rugby Union World Cup semi-final

By the time Wales reached the knock-out stages of the World Cup, the nation was at fever pitch. England were in disarray on and off the field, the South Africans and Australians had failed to impress and the All Blacks were losing star after star to injuries.

The Welsh, meanwhile, had stood out as the in-form team of the World Cup, particularly after they played the Irish off the park ... more 

Sam Warburton sent off in the Rugby Union World Cup semi-final

By the time Wales reached the knock-out stages of the World Cup, the nation was at fever pitch. England were in disarray on and off the field, the South Africans and Australians had failed to impress and the All Blacks were losing star after star to injuries.

The Welsh, meanwhile, had stood out as the in-form team of the World Cup, particularly after they played the Irish off the park into the quarter final. Only a lousy French side who had lost to Tonga in the group stages stood between them and the World Cup final.

Just 18 minutes into the semi, all that changed. With Wales 3-0 ahead, skipper Sam Warburton hit France's Vincent Clerc with a ferocious tackle that sent the diminutive winger flying through the air.

Warburton let go of his opponent, giving referee Alain Rolland little option but to apply Draconian new IRB rules on spear tackling and send off Wales's player of the tournament so far. In that instant the dream was shattered, with the red card giving the French the boost they needed to grind out a 9-8 victory and send the Welsh nation into mourning. less