"I am very proud of his academic and sporting successes and pleased to have played a role.". "It's nice that I'll finally be able to call myself a doctor.". “We have a huge responsibility to do that to make sure people are rounded and they have things outside the game. Roberts will graduate in the summer before heading off to join Racing Metro in Paris. "It is a tribute to Jamie that he has successfully completed that journey. But I am worried, desperately worried. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. The biggest challenge comes with not knowing what I want to do. Could cold water hold a clue to a dementia cure? 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. I’m scared s***less to be quite frank with you. "It's been tough but it's been worth every second to achieve one of my main goals in life," he added. “I really feel this could be Wales’ greatest ever team, if that makes sense,” he added. “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. “However insignificant your role may seem, we all have a very important role to play.”. The 26-year-old, who studied at Cardiff University, said his gut reaction was one of relief. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. “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. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. 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? “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. “It’s very odd for me personally because I don’t ever feel like I was a rugby player", – It's just 15 months since James Haskell retired from playing but he has been so busy outside the game his old identity doesn't define him ?? Coronavirus: How has sport been affected? VideoThe woman who ferries Covid patients in a school bus, Large cat figure discovered in Peru's Nazca lines, The story of the blaze that destroyed Moria camp. RugbyPass is the premier destination for rugby fans across the globe, with the best news, analysis, shows, highlights, podcasts, documentaries, live match & player stats, live blog feeds, and in some territories live streaming of the world's greatest rugby tournaments all in HD. window.scriptsToInit.push('BrightCoveEmbeddedScrollVideo.init("6198344399001");'); 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. 'The All Blacks have proven nothing': The truth behind New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup II... Jamie Roberts breaks silence on his positive Covid test, discusses major outbreak at Sale, Simon Zebo on why he left Ireland and his situation with current boss Andy Farrell, 'Everyone assumes the challenge is not to go out for a beer - that isn't the challenge', the last of his 94 caps was earned in November 2017. It took eight years of study while performing at rugby union's top level with the Cardiff Blues and his country. Video, The story of the blaze that destroyed Moria camp, Arctic Circle teens call for help to save their homes. "I pay tribute to the dean of medicine, Prof Paul Morgan, and all in the undergraduate office for allowing me to balance my studies and rugby and a special thanks to Dr Andrew Freedman for his personal support over the last four years.". He's 33 and a qualified doctor but Jamie Roberts fears retiring from rugby (Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images) PRO 14 Former Wales midfielder Jamie Roberts has revealed that although he is a qualified doctor, the prospect of retiring as a rugby … The country is close to being overwhelmed as the number of cases soars, the health minister warns. "My nickname amongst team-mates has for some time been Doc, and I've always felt like a little bit of a fraud," he said. I was stupidly busy and when I reflect on it now I couldn’t do it again.”. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. ", .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Jamie Roberts' long goodbye to Cardiff. There are no two ways with that. I’ll see how it goes because I didn’t have a professional contract. Wales international Jamie Roberts has put up a frontline doctor in his Cardiff flat as part of the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? © 2020 BBC. Access Free 30 Day Trial to Ad Free Rugby Content on The XV Now, Here’s the debut episode of RugbyPod Offload, the new podcast featuring Dylan Hartley, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson, He's 33 and a qualified doctor but Jamie Roberts fears retiring from rugby. Which countries around the world has coronavirus spread to? “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. 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. “I loved that kind of fear, the challenge to perform on a Saturday and nail some exams towards Christmas time. Former Wales centre and graduate doctor Jamie Roberts joins NHS in battle against coronavirus Thirty-three-year-old is contracted to South African … VideoUndercover in the schools that chain boys, The woman who ferries Covid patients in a school bus. VideoArctic Circle teens call for help to save their homes, Philippines artificial beach 'bad for environment' VideoPhilippines artificial beach 'bad for environment', 'A year of rising and fading hopes' in Beirut. When can we really expect coronavirus to end? Wales rugby centre Jamie Roberts qualifies as doctor 15 April 2013 Roberts says he is looking forward to a few lie-ins after all the hard studying After a … Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? .css-8h1dth-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-8h1dth-Link:hover,.css-8h1dth-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. Video, The woman who ferries Covid patients in a school bus, The story of the blaze that destroyed Moria camp. "It's a been a long, hard road and I would like to say a huge thanks to the school of medicine for allowing me to undertake my studies, part-time. He received his final medical exam results on Monday, becoming Dr Roberts. I have spoken to past players about lads struggling, it’s probably the most daunting time. People in Wales told to stay home during 'firebreak', French police raid homes of suspected Islamists, Indigenous groups march on Bogotá over killings, Far-right online: 'I got them back on social media' VideoFar-right online: 'I got them back on social media', Undercover in the schools that chain boys. "Balancing the demands of top-class sport with the intensive study required for medicine is not easy, particularly in rugby's professional era. But his remarkable rugby story isn't over, writes @heagneyl ?? Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. 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. We have a massive responsibility towards players in the game that they are doing something outside the game. Thirty-three-year-old is contracted to South African side Stormers, but returned to Wales after the Super Rugby season was suspended, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. As a medic, Roberts added that long-term injury issues go with the territory of being a rugby player. Cardiff vice-chancellor Prof Colin Riordan said: "Cardiff University is rightly proud of our medical students and their successes.