Have a look at the career path our new signing Jamie Roberts took ahead of putting pen-to-paper on his contract with Dragons.
1986: Born Newport on 8th November
1998: Attends Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf and goes on to be selected for Cardiff Schools
2003: Wins representative honours with Wales under 19s
2004: Debut as replacement for Cardiff against Neath at Cardiff Arms Park, before playing a further 27 times for the Blue & Blacks between 2004 and 2007
2005: Part of Wales under 21 side that won Six Nations Grand Slam
2007 Full debut for Cardiff Blues against Ospreys in 17-15 win at Cardiff Arms Park and scores first try for the region on his second start against Dragons and goes on to win the club’s most promising player award.
2008: International debut versus Scotland, as Wales triumph 30–15 in Cardiff, before going on to lift the Grand Slam trophy in Warren Gatland’s first season as head coach. Scored his first international try against Springboks on the summer tour.
In the Autumn Series international against the Wallabies Roberts collides with Aussie skipper Stirling Mortlock in the second minute of the game, which Wales won 21-18.
2009: Helps a 14-man Cardiff team defeat Dean Ryan’s Gloucester at Kingsholm to become only the fifth team to win all their Heineken Cup group games. However, despite a try for Roberts in the semi-finals, the Blues miss out on a Heineken Cup final place to Leicester Tigers in a match decided by penalty kicks at Millennium Stadium. The same season helps the Blues to EDF Energy Cup success against Gloucester with 50-12 win at Twickenham.
Wins Man of the Match award in 26-13 win against Scotland at Murrayfield, but Ireland are Grand Slam champions. Selected for Lions 2009 South Africa tour and starts first Test which Lions lose despite a late comeback, however his centre partnership with Brian O'Driscoll is touted as one of the Lions' best centre partnerships ever. Roberts picked as the Lions Player of the Series.
Starts at centre, as Barbarians record only their second-ever win over New Zealand 25-18 at Twickenham and finishes third in BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.
2010: Wins Amlin Challenge Cup with Cardiff Blues scoring a try in the final at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille against star-studded Toulon.
2011: Selected in Rugby World Cup squad and played superbly, scoring two tries in the tournament as Wales reached the semi-finals before agonizing defeat to France 8-9.
2012: Named in the Wales squad for 2012 Six Nations championship starting all five games as Wales achieved their third Grand Slam in eight years.
2013: Wales crowned 2013 Six Nations champions and Roberts was central to this success, winning his 50th cap and starting all five games including a famous 30-3 demolition over England at the Millennium Stadium in the final game, denying England a Grand Slam
Graduates from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine after successfully completing his medical degree.
Joins Racing Metro (Racing 92) and plays 16 games, scoring once, during his first season in the Top 14.
2014: Roberts starts all five games in the Six Nations championship, including a 51-3 thrashing of Scotland and played in both games of a two Test summer tour to South Africa.
Racing are defeated in the Top 14 play-off semi-finals by eventual winners Toulon
2015: Helps Racing qualify for Top 14 play offs, but season ends with quarter-final defeat to Paris rivals Stade Francais who lift the title. Joins Harlequins and scores a try against Calvisano on debut after the Rugby World Cup
Wales miss out to Ireland on Six Nations title on points difference, but gains selection for 2015 Rugby World Cup playing four times for Wales, including the quarter-final defeat to Springboks, where he starts alongside Tyler Morgan at centre.
Begins Master of Philosophy in medical science at the University of Cambridge (Queens’). Gains Cambridge Blue when he plays in Varsity game versus Oxford at Twickenham
2016: Quins lose European Challenge Cup final to Montpellier in Lyon and miss out on Guinness Premiership play-off spot, whilst Wales finish second in the Six Nations to England, before touring New Zealand.
2017: Helps Harlequins qualify for Heineken Champions Cup but there’s disappointment for Wales in the Six Nations as they finish fifth. Roberts captains Wales for summer tour to Tonga and Samoa after missing out on Lions selection. Earns 94th Wales cap against All Blacks as a replacement
2018: Departs Harlequins after three seasons and 53 games to join Bath.
2019: Bath finish sixth to qualify for Heineken Champions Cup once more
2020: Departs Bath in January as they finish third in tough Heineken Champions Cup group behind Leinster and Toulouse following 34 games for the club. Joins DHL Stormers for the 25th season of Super Rugby. After making his debut in 27-0 victory over Hurricanes, he plays another five games for the Cape Town based outfit, scoring one try in victory against the Bulls in February, before coronavirus pandemic ends the tournament.
Joins Dragons ahead of resumption of 2019/20 campaign.
Factfile
Super Rugby Games 6 / Tries 1 / Points 5
Heineken Cup Games 46 / Tries 5 / Points 25
Premiership Rugby Games 61 / Tries 7 / Points 35
Challenge Cup Games 12 / Tries 7 / Points 35
Top 14 Games 24 / Tries 3 /Points 15
PRO14 Games 50 / Tries 13 / Points 65
Anglo Welsh Cup 8 Games
Total 207 Appearances / 36 Tries
Honours
British Lions 3 Test caps, 1 try (2009, 2013), wins Lions Player of the Series award (2009)
Wales 94 caps, 13 tries
Grand Slam (2008, 2012), Six Nations titles (2008, 2012, 2013), RWC Semi Finalist (2011)
European Challenge Cup winner (2010)
Anglo Welsh Cup winner (2009)
