Wales vs Italy

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024 | DYDD SADWRN 16 MAWRTH 2024
GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2024 | WALES V ITALY | CYMRU V YR EIDAL
When he won his second cap
against France last weekend he
was joined on the pitch by other
Sir Gar alumni, Gareth Davies
and Gareth Thomas, and would
have lined up alongside another
had Ryan Elias not been forced
to pull out through injury.
He also had Josh Adams outside
him, although he might still
not be speaking to him after he
ignored an overlap and backed
himself to score. Instead of a
walk-in try No 22 at Test level
for Adams it became the first
of what Roberts hopes will be
many more of his own for Wales.
“Josh did give me a bit of a look!
There was a bit of white line fever
but I backed myself to get it
down and I was happy to get my
first try,” said Roberts, who misses
today’s game as George North
returns to make his 121st and final
Welsh cap at outside centre.
“I think I did okay against France.
There were some errors but
hopefully I can build on that
in the future when I get a bit
more confidence in the jersey
and a bit more experience.
“It was certainly a lesson for
the future, playing against
a team of stars like that. It
is the speed of things that
is the biggest difference.
“I can remember watching Gael
Fickou, my opposite number,
playing for France when I was
growing up. He’s been around
a long time, hasn’t he?
“Playing against players of
that calibre is how you build.
When I watch the game back
I’ll compare his game with my
game and see what I can pick up.
“I didn’t try to swap jerseys
with him at the end because
I wanted to keep my own.”
His shirt from his first home
game for Wales will now go
alongside the one he kept
from his debut in the World
Cup warm-up clash with
England at Twickenham. If
his outside break that paved
the way for a try for Tomos
Wiliams in that game showed
his potential, his try against
the France firmly underlined
what the 23-year-old is capable
of producing in the future.
Born in Swansea, and raised in
Burry Port, Roberts followed
in the footsteps of a host of
international players when
he went to Sir Gar. Under
the expert tuition of director
of rugby Euros Evans, there
have been many professional
players and internationals
nurtured at the college.
Their Welsh international list
for the past 24 years includes
Adam Jones, Adam Warren, Rob
McCusker, Lou Reed, Gavin Evans,
Scott Williams, Gareth Davies,
Kirby Myhill, Josh Adams, Samson
Lee, Aled Davies, Ryan Elias, Sam
Parry, Gareth Thomas, Kieran
Hardy and Jac Morgan. There are
also two Scottish caps in Luke
Hamilton and Javan Sebastian.
Not a bad return for the college
and a vital pipeline of talent
for Welsh teams at every
level. And don’t forget about
the 13 Wales Sevens caps!
32
/WELSHRUGBYUNION