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He's 33 and a qualified doctor but Jamie Roberts fears retiring from rugby

(Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)

Former Wales midfielder Jamie Roberts has revealed that although he is a qualified doctor, the prospect of retiring as a rugby player in the next year or two is filling him with dread. 

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Out of the Welsh reckoning since the last of his 94 caps was earned in November 2017, the 33-year-old midfielder has appeared for three clubs this year, moving from Bath in England to the South African Stormers last January and then linking with the Dragons in August after returning to Wales for the lockdown. 

The 2009 and 2013 Lions Test centre isn’t exactly sure how long he will continue to play and neither is he certain what career he will take up when he finally hangs up his boots, a situation that he is uncomfortable with.

Video Spacer

Here’s the debut episode of RugbyPod Offload, the new podcast featuring Dylan Hartley, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

Video Spacer

Here’s the debut episode of RugbyPod Offload, the new podcast featuring Dylan Hartley, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

Making his debut appearance on the new RugbyPass Offload show, ex-Wales talisman Roberts candidly discussed his fears of life without rugby with Dylan Hartley, the now-retired England captain who is trying to find his own way after a career in the front row.        

“It’s going to happen to me,” said Roberts, taking up the topic of when he might call it quits as a player following a stellar career with a myriad of clubs and with Wales. “I don’t know if it is at this end of this year or maybe another year, we’ll see.  I have spoken to past players about lads struggling, it’s probably the most daunting time. I’m scared s***less to be quite frank with you. 

“Look, I have been lucky that I have worked hard and have got stuff in the bank, my degree and what I can go on and do. But I am worried, desperately worried. The biggest challenge comes with not knowing what I want to do. 

“Even still, the first step towards being sane in the afterlife of finishing rugby is taking real personal responsibility while you’re playing. We have a massive responsibility towards players in the game that they are doing something outside the game. 

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“It makes better people, it makes better players, we are a business of producing good people as well as good rugby players. And how many players have you played with Dylan who are brilliant, brilliant rugby players but couldn’t hold a conversation in a room of sponsors and corporates for example? 

“We have a huge responsibility to do that to make sure people are rounded and they have things outside the game. I don’t think it’s quite there yet and for me, that’s the biggest driver to help people after playing is doing it while they are still playing.”

Hartley recently detailed the punishing after-effects of his career in rugby in his newly published autobiography and he was in awe that Roberts had found the time while playing to secure his medical qualification.   

“Physically from a welfare point of view, I feel like the game has got a responsibility to look after its players better post rugby,” said Hartley. “I’m one of those guys now and it’s pretty quiet, it’s tumbleweed out there when you finish… it’s really inspirational that you became a doctor because when you leave rugby there is absolutely nothing.”

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Roberts responded by explaining how he managed the onerous task of balancing education with his rugby as an emerging player in Wales. “I became pro in my third year in uni. I was in the academy so I hadn’t broken into professional rugby scene when I was 18, 19 so it was a case I’m going to go uni, I’m still in the academy playing semi-professional rugby. I’ll see how it goes because I didn’t have a professional contract. 

“It was only after I was halfway through my second year, start of my third year I got my first professional contract with Cardiff Blues and I battled many times with the idea of quitting university. Lots of times thinking this is too much, but I kind of loved the challenge of trying to do both and not failing at both because the biggest fear is you become average at both and don’t achieve anything. 

“I loved that kind of fear, the challenge to perform on a Saturday and nail some exams towards Christmas time. Six Nations would come around and it would be like right I’ve got to deliver. Then some exams in the summer and what have you. I was stupidly busy and when I reflect on it now I couldn’t do it again.”

As a medic, Roberts added that long-term injury issues go with the territory of being a rugby player. “When you accept the career you go into as a professional rugby player, you accept that it is going to do harm to your body. There are no two ways with that. 

“When you’re a young guy and you sign up to this life in professional rugby you have got to understand that come 50, 60, maybe even earlier for some people, late 30s, 40s, you are going to be at risk of knee replacement, shoulder replacement, ankle surgery, what have you. That’s a given. It’s an obvious thing to state.”

– To listen on iTunes, click here

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
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