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International

Bradley Roberts has announced his immediate-effect retirement

Wales' Bradley Roberts (Photo by Ian Cook/ CameraSport via Getty Images)

Dragons hooker Bradley Roberts has confirmed his immediate-effect retirement from playing at the age of 28. The South African-born front-rower made a 2021 Test debut for Wales against the country of his birth, going on to win five caps in total, but a back injury has now cut short his career.

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A statement read: “Bradley Roberts has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect due to injury. The 28-year-old Wales international hooker made 27 appearances for the Men of Gwent over two seasons, scoring seven tries and becoming a firm favourite with supporters at Rodney Parade.

“His final club appearance came against Hollywoodbets Sharks in January of this year, and he will now hang up his boots due to a back injury and initially return to South Africa. Durban-born Roberts moved to Dragons in 2022 from Irish province Ulster, returning to Wales having previously spent a season with RGC in the Welsh Premiership.

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Protection of 9 at base of scrum and maul | Law trials

Referee Brendon Pickerell goes through the law trials surrounding the protection of the number nine around the ruck and the maul.

Video Spacer

Protection of 9 at base of scrum and maul | Law trials

Referee Brendon Pickerell goes through the law trials surrounding the protection of the number nine around the ruck and the maul.

“The dynamic front row made his international debut for Wales against South Africa in the 2021 Autumn Nations Series and earned five caps.”

Roberts said: “My career has been short but very sweet and I look back at this chapter with massive pride and astonishment. I have no doubt it will leave me in good stead for whatever life has in store for. If my life so far is anything to go by, I’m sure it will be very exciting.

“Thank you to Dragons for being my home for the last few seasons. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Newport and am excited to see what this group can achieve. I have no doubt that the only way is up and that there is a big future ahead of the club. To the fans – thank you so much for the support. I really appreciate it.”

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan added: “Brad leaves us with our best wishes for the future and thanks for his efforts during his time as a Dragon. Bradley has always given his absolute all to the cause – something that has seen fans of every club he has represented take him to their hearts.

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“It is that belief, drive, and talent that has seen him play successfully at the very highest level. We look forward to seeing what the next chapter holds for him and welcoming him back to Rodney Parade in the years to come.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

G
GrahamVF 10 minutes ago
Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

While the All Blacks look a much better side than the one that went down at home to Argentina, the success of the tour cannot be judged on two games. England ara mediocre side which lost to a side which got thumped by more than 30 points four times in the rugby championship. The value of the Irish win is much bigger but it will be put in perspective by the Ireland Argentine game this weekend. Ireland are nowhere near the team that won 17 tests in a row having only scraped a five out of nine wins in including wins over Italy and Wales starting with the WC QF. Scotland are a way better team than England as their comprehensive win last time out showed. The game against France is vital for the AB's to judge their progression.

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CE 23 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Australia improved from the R.C and are spreading that ball around like Rama on toast. How's the weather loooking for Saturday? If its Kak and it likely will be how do you not see a close game knowing Englands style.

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GrahamVF 28 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Another SH clean sweep?

29 Go to comments
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GrahamVF 30 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

He's not a typical Kiwi. He's an embarrassment.

29 Go to comments
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GrahamVF 30 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

I didn't believe the suggestions that the NZ education system was in total disarray - you are the living proof of that. I don't know where you went to school but you should ask for your money back.

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GrahamVF 36 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

It won't be close. Did you watch the England Australia game? Australia haven't miraculously gone from a team that shipped sixty six points to 19 in the last two games against the Boks and also got 66 points against them from Argentina to a team beating a genuine top four team.

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GG 40 minutes ago
Ex-Ireland legend slam players' 'showboating' against the All Blacks

The masters of that showboating are England and especially the Saracens lot- Earl as the leader. Bloody ridiculous.

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G
GrahamVF 41 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

He has to handle Etsebeth and JG Strydom hmmmmmmmmmm in any event Etsebeth had played France while England scraped home against Fiji big difference on Saturday but if he had to substitute a lock PSDT would go to lock and a flank would replace him.

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T
Tim 46 minutes ago
Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

In Ratima's defence he didn't get much protection from his forwards. Also the Irish forwards spent a considerable amount of time on the NZ side of the ruck. Fair play if you get away with it. By the time Roigard was on the pitch the ref was wise to the Irish cynical play.

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GrahamVF 47 minutes ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Rookie woiuld be more accruate.

29 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 58 minutes ago
England vs South Africa | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

5/3 split it is 😎

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B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Ireland player ratings vs New Zealand | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

Fair comment. My initial reaction was Berry made bad calls. And the balance seemed to Ireland’s detriment.


But it was a Friday night and couple of whisky’s in.


Either way, NZ outplayed the Irish and deserved the win. So thankfully the refereeing didn’t decide the outcome.

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J
JB 1 hour ago
Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time'

I think one of the reasons the squad ends up as it does is that Gatland looks for players who are playing the way he likes but doesn't adapt his ideas to players who don't fit that mould so ignores them. As Mark Orders says, Jarrod Evans has long been a Wales outsider but then not many people ever saw him as a Wales player, despite being very good for his club, and I think the reason for that is that he didn't fit the narrow style being imposed by the coaches, where the coaching team should be crafting a game plan to fit talented players in if possible.

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A
AA 1 hour ago
Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

So bye bye to settled team .

Two more leicester players shoehorned in .

I do wish them both well and can see the point of large full back .

But Spencer/ Furbank not even in the 23 is madness.

Vdp has not done enough to earn his place compared to Spencers form at Bath this year ,but I hope he can do ok .

If Borthwick is picking on form then how the dickens can ford keep his place after 2 very poor games.

Poor Fin Smith must be wondering how much better he has to play to get in if Ford can give tries away and still get picked.Also, At least Furbank could play 10 or 15 or 11/14 if needs but ford only has the skill to play 10 .this limit the option really badly by picking ford . No speed . No skill at tackling .

.

I do hope Marcus comes through the 80 mins unscathed


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Angela Patrick 1 hour ago
England and their Chief problem

Mi esposo regresó después de usar un hechizo de reconciliación que obtuve de un espiritual muy poderoso llamado HIGH PRIEST OHEN, obtuve la información de un colega de trabajo que me preguntaba por qué siempre lloro cuando estoy en el trabajo, le expliqué. mi amor para el. Su vida se estaba rompiendo en pedazos y me pidió que le escribiera a este sacerdote a (reunitingexlovespell@outlook.com o contactarlo a través de la web, reunitingexloverspell.com) para resolver mi vida amorosa y mis problemas. Y lo hice y quedó perfecto.

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A
Angela Patrick 1 hour ago
England and their Chief problem

Mi esposo regresó después de usar un hechizo de reconciliación que obtuve de un espiritual muy poderoso llamado HIGH PRIEST OHEN, obtuve la información de un colega de trabajo que me preguntaba por qué siempre lloro cuando estoy en el trabajo, le expliqué. mi amor para el. Su vida se estaba rompiendo en pedazos y me pidió que le escribiera a este sacerdote a (reunitingexlovespell@outlook.com o contactarlo a través de la web, reunitingexloverspell.com) para resolver mi vida amorosa y mis problemas. Y lo hice y quedó perfecto.

7 Go to comments
J
JPM 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

It is clear that you really don't like Antoine Dupont !! But you should be careful not attacking him on the personal side as it is also clear that you don't know him at all. Treating him of greedy and disrespectful is a bit too much. He is always very appreciated by his team mates in particular because he is humble. When he joined the rugby 7 team he came with a low profile stating that he had a lot of things to learn and was clever enough to stay at the right place despite his superstar profile that all the media wanted him to be.

65 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
England and their Chief problem

Well not sure all the political references or even NFL ones were necessary...


But as Bull Shark as eluded to below, England are poor, their ability to dig out wins at the death is the least of their problems. The defence is awful, the attack is entirely dependent on Marcus Smith and our scrum is bad. We need to figure out how we want to play before we worry about putting the icing on the cake.

7 Go to comments
L
LRB 1 hour ago
Rob Kearney 1 of 2 players appointed to World Rugby's executive board

"I've beaten the All Blacks - our wedding day doesn't even register"


That about sums him up..

1 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
Four changes for England, including the axing of scrum-half Spencer

Well, SA know what's coming now if they didn't already!

2 Go to comments
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