Wales and Lions rugby star Jamie Roberts to become junior doctor

Former Wales rugby worldwide Jamie Roberts says he’s “prepared” and “excited” to grow to be a junior physician and full his medical coaching within the NHS.

Twelve years after graduating from Cardiff College’s faculty of drugs, the previous British and Irish Lion will start two years of basis coaching in hospitals in south Wales.

Roberts gained 94 caps for Wales and was the British and Irish Lions’ Participant of the Sequence following their tour of South Africa in 2009, earlier than being chosen once more for the Australia tour in 2013.

The 38-year-old mentioned rugby had given him “a few of the finest experiences” of his life and he was “wanting ahead to the identical in a medical profession”.

Roberts made his debut for Wales towards Scotland in 2008, whereas he was a medical scholar.

“I at all times wished to play rugby. It was a ardour of mine,” Roberts advised BBC Information.

“I liked the game, I nonetheless do and it’ll stick with me without end. However I used to be a problem-solver in school.

“I like maths and I like science and I like individuals, I suppose. And drugs was the proper match and ticked plenty of bins for me.”

Within the UK, medical coaching includes an undergraduate diploma which often takes 5 years to finish, adopted by a two-year basis programme when trainees grow to be junior medical doctors and are paid a wage.

It took Roberts seven years to finish his undergraduate diploma due to his commitments with Wales, the Lions and Cardiff Blues.

“I replicate on it now and I’m wondering how on earth I did that. You already know, the keenness of youth helps. I used to be very busy. I used to be very pushed,” he mentioned.

He sat his remaining undergraduate exams in 2013 – the identical week that he was a part of a Wales facet which gained the Six Nations after defeating England by 30-3 – and graduated just a few months later.

“You already know, we gained the match right here [in Cardiff], after which a month or two later – having sat my medical finals in that Wales v England week – I obtained my examination outcomes,” he recalled.

“I suppose it was the fruits of plenty of arduous work over each disciplines.”

After graduating, Roberts spent the following decade targeted on his rugby profession, enjoying at centre for a number of golf equipment together with Racing Metro, Harlequins, Tub, Dragons and Waratahs.

However academia continued to provide the aspiring physician the escape from rugby he mentioned he “craved”, and he accomplished postgraduate levels at each Loughborough College and Cambridge College.

He turned a father in 2021, earlier than retiring from rugby the next yr.

“Once you end enjoying rugby, you already know, when individuals ask you what you are doing it is generally difficult when you possibly can’t actually reply that query and also you’re doing random fine details,” he mentioned.

In November 2023, Roberts handed a “return to drugs” examination which allowed him to renew his medical coaching.

So, through which subject does he hope to specialise?

“I used to be clearly very inquisitive about my very own accidents. I had fairly just a few massive ones,” he mentioned.

“Reconstructive surgical procedure to fairly just a few of my joints, a fractured cranium as properly.

“Whether or not I can foresee a future in sports activities drugs, or orthopaedics, that is what I am naturally leaning in the direction of.”

Roberts follows within the footsteps of a number of different Wales internationals who turned their arms to drugs, together with Dr Jack Matthews, orthopaedic surgeon JPR Williams, former captain Dr Gwyn Jones and, extra not too long ago, Hallam Amos.

“I’ve an enormous quantity of respect for everybody who works for the NHS,” mentioned Roberts.

“I’ve little question it is difficult at occasions and I’ve little question I will really feel that, however once more that is the problem is not it. It rewards you in many various methods, so I am wanting ahead to it.”

As one of the crucial acquainted faces in Welsh sport, Roberts mentioned being recognised by sufferers was “at all times nice.”

“Individuals love rugby in Wales. As a scholar that had its rewards for me – it is a good way of connecting with individuals and once more, I am excited by that.”

Reflecting on his sporting profession, Roberts added: “I gave the sport every thing I had and it roared at me in such superb methods.

“It is given me a few of the finest experiences of my life and I am wanting ahead to the identical in a medical profession.”