1
Jamie Roberts in talks over shock Welsh club move
By Chris Jones
Wales and Lions midfielder Jamie Roberts is holding talks with the ambitious Dragons, opening the way for a new centre partnership with Nick Tomkins, who is on-loan at the Welsh region from Saracens.
Tomkins, who made his Wales debut earlier this year under new boss Wayne Pivac, was being lined up to join Australian Joe Tomane in midfield but the deal to bring the released Leinster back to Newport has now stalled.
That has resulted in Roberts, whose most recent rugby was earlier this year in the colours of the Stormers in South Africa, negotiating with the Dragons about a return to regional rugby in Wales.
Roberts, 33, left Cardiff Blues in 2013 for Racing 92 in France. He then headed to Harlequins and Bath before the first taste of Super Rugby came with the Cape Town-based Stormers.
The 94-time Wales cap Wales returned home just before the Covid-19 lockdown hit South Africa and he has been helping the NHS during the pandemic as a qualified doctor. Roberts became involved with the Cardiff and Vale Health Board in an honorary role.
The potential arrival of Roberts, who played for Cambridge University in the 2015 Varsity match, would add much-needed experience to the Dragons squad which has been strengthened by the arrival of Tomkins and Jonah Holmes, the Wales wing, who arrived from Leicester.
Dean Ryan, the Dragons director of rugby, is heading the negotiations with Roberts who started his senior career at Cardiff RFC and was a key figure in the series-winning Lions squad in Australia in 2013.
Roberts won the last of his Wales caps against New Zealand in 2017, but the 6ft 4in centre showed in the Stormers colours that he remains a potent force. Aside from Guinness PRO14 duty, his experience would prove useful when the Dragons play in the expanded 24-team Heineken Champions Cup next season.
They are currently awaiting a 2019/20 Challenge Cup quarter-final away to Bristol this September, a fixture that would see Roberts up against Fiji’s Semi Radradra who has joined the big-spending West Country outfit.
In other Dragons news, back row Ben Fry, 21, has committed his long-term future after putting pen to paper on a first professional contract with the region. Younger brother Harry, 19, is also becoming a Dragon as the prop will make the move from Gloucester where he was part of the academy set-up.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Nemani Nadolo: 'Now I cut grass, do gardens, cut hedges for a living'
3
Exclusive RugbyPass interview: Toulon co-captain David Ribbans
4
'One of the deadliest wingers in rugby' has decided his future
5
Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
Go to comments