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Report: Waratahs have signed former Lions and Wales' legend Roberts

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)

The NSW Waratahs have added the experience of former British & Irish Lions and Wales inside centre Jamie Roberts for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season after losing a squad member to injury according to a report by Sydney Morning Herald.

The 35-year-old played for the Welsh club Dragons in 2021 after a shortened stint in Cape Town with the Stormers in 2020 and is now set to move down under in 2022.

Roberts has been signed to bolster midfield depth after the Waratahs lost 21-year-old Joey Walton who suffered a knee injury is out for the season.

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The former Welsh international, who was capped 97 times during his career, will bring plenty of experience to the centres group to includes recently capped Wallabies Izaia Perese and Lalakai Foketi.

The Waratahs will be out to improve on a disastrous 2021 season that ended with head coach Rob Penney being sacked after a heavy 46-14 loss to the Queensland Reds. Penney was just two years through a three-year deal signed in 2019.

The club will be hoping that the arrival of Roberts can help shape a revival of sorts in 2022 as they look to avoid going winless after eight losses from eight losses in Super Rugby AU and five losses from five outings in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

New head coach Darren Coleman, an established local coach with a track record of success in club rugby, will lead the side as they begin the rebuild.