Jamie Roberts discusses life and rugby in Australia before heading back to Wales

Decorated Welsh centre Dr. Jamie Roberts has admitted that it will be tough to leave Sydney and the Waratahs when he and his young family head back to Wales later this month. 

Roberts, 35, joined up with the Waratahs five months ago and turned out for them in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific tournament, the conclusion thereof saw him reach the end of his contract. 

“It’s been unreal. I find myself using that word all the time, because the lads all use it every day! It honestly has been an incredible five months,” he said. 

“We are very lucky with our set up in Manly. Nicole’s parents have a place here just off the beach. It’s an amazing lifestyle with young children. I have met so many ex-pats out here who maybe came over for a month or two and haven’t left. You are on the beach, the climate is fantastic. 

“Manly is such a cool spot. You can jump on the ferry and it’s 20 minutes into the city if you want the hustle and bustle or you can escape to a nice town on a fantastic beach. I have absolutely loved it. It’s just an awesome lifestyle. 

“It’s going to be difficult leaving. We are coming home a week Saturday, so we are just trying to make the most of our last week or so here as a family before we head back. I think Nicole (Roberts’ fincee) is struggling to envisage leaving. We have loved our time here.” 

When asked whether the possibility exists that he might return to live in Australia, Roberts said: 

“It is a tricky one. I gave myself that headache when I proposed to an Australian girl! I made that decision fully aware of the headache it would give us, but it’s a nice headache to have. 

“The lifestyle here for young children is just unbelievable and it’s going to be challenging moving home. Look, I love it back in Cardiff, but it’s going to be a bit different. We are definitely going to miss Australia. It’s been an unbelievable time. 

“Certainly when the kids get to school age, it’s a decision we are going to have to make in terms of where we drop anchor. We are both going into it with an open mind and we will see where we end up. I guess a lot of it depends on what I end up doing after playing and what sort of career I go into. We will see. 

“I think the dream scenario would be being able to bounce between them both. I know Nicole’s parents did that when their kids were growing up. Nicole spent junior school in one place and high school in another. So I guess there’s nothing stopping us having the best of both worlds. It is a headache, but certainly a nice headache to have.” 

On the rugby side, Roberts had positive things to say regarding the Waratahs’ set-up: 

“It’s been very enjoyable. The standard of coaching is fantastic and all the players are hungry and want to win. There is a real energy about rugby in Australia now, coming off a tough couple of years with Covid. You’ve also had the announcement of the Lions tour in 2025 and the World Cups in 2027 and 2029. They have got a wonderful couple of years now to really generate interest in rugby union because it battles so hard with other sports out here. 

“In Melbourne, Aussie Rules is everything, in New South Wales rugby league is huge and you’ve got a battle with league in Queensland as well. Trying to get kids into union is the biggest challenge. 

“The game is different here. It’s definitely higher intensity, it’s faster. I think the power and pace in the game is higher than back home," says the 94-cap centre. 

“If I was to pick out one thing that’s different, it’s just attitude to risk. It’s attitude in terms of off-loading and playing from your own half. Back home, it’s often quite conservative and the most conservative teams often do well. If you look at who is in the Premiership final, Saracens and Leicester, they won’t take much risk in their own half. They won’t chuck the ball around and risk getting turned over. 

"They take risk out of the game, whereas, down here, the attitude to risk is tilted the other way. They will actually have a crack. If you have the courage to pull those sort of things off, you can score some great tries and create some great rugby.” 

While Down Under, Roberts also crossed paths with his old mentor Warren Gatland who is again involved with the Chiefs. 

“It was good to catch up with Gats,” said Roberts. “We had a nice bottle of red with him and Bryn after the first game, so that was good to kind of reminisce and chew the fat. 

“It was great. We had a good chat about the past. He was my only Test coach. I played all my international rugby under Warren. It was good to see Bryn doing well too. I remember him as a young lad coming into training and have a kick around with the boys. Now he’s pulling the strings at 10 for the Chiefs. It’s great to see how he’s matured as a player. 

“It was good to lock horns with them. Unfortunately they beat us twice! 

“We were obviously disappointed to lose in the play-off, but compared to where the team was last year we have made huge strides. It’s been great, an awesome chapter in my career. I definitely did the right thing coming out.”