THE INVESTOR
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as a sports scientist, helping to x the kind of injuries that are
inevitable for those who are at the pinnacle of their sport. Roberts
has not escaped injury; his ankle, knee, wrist and shoulder have
all taken punishment. He admits that the long periods spent out
of the game recovering from injury have been ‘pretty brutal’ –
undoubtedly the low points of his career.‘But at the end of the
recovery period you have rediscovered your appetite for the game
and are raring to go again.’
The injuries have made him aware that life at the top of his
sport can be short, so it is important to make the most of the
earnings potential in these lucrative years.‘You can start earning
large sums quite young and I think it is important to do the right
thing [with those earnings] and to plan ahead.’ MartynWilliams,
a formerWelsh international and player at Cardi Blues – where
Roberts played between 2007 and 2013 – introduced him to
St. James’s Place Partners Jack Price and Andrew Booth of Castle
CourtWealth Management in Cardi .They helped him plan for
the future, including setting up a pension and establishing a
limited company.‘My dad has always been quite clever with
money and I think I take after him. I’m not one to live an
extravagant lifestyle. I’m not tight but I’m not that loose with
money, either.’
It was his dad who rst took him to play rugby for a local
team in Newport when he was seven years old.‘I grew up
watching Newport; I have been a supporter since I was 14.’
The family then moved to Cardi , where Roberts attended
aWelsh-speaking comprehensive, playing forWales Under 16s,
Under 19s and Under 21s before winning his rst full cap
in 2008.
His father also instilled in him a love of travel, which still
endures.‘My parents used to save their money for life-changing
experiences for my brother and me.’ His favourite place is
California.‘I’ve been there four or ve times. If there was
professional rugby in California, I would be there like a shot.’
Harlequins andWales fans will be relieved that there is no
sign of rugby taking o on the west coast of the US, for the
moment at least.
INTERVIEW
BORN
November 1986, Newport
EDUCATED
Cardiff University
CLUB CAREER
2007-2013 Cardiff Blues
2013-2015 Racing Metro
2015- Harlequins
CV
PLAYING RECORD
69
9
3
1
1
0
87 15
26
2
Wales
British and Irish Lions
Test matches
Barbarians
Cardiff Blues
Racing Metro
PLAYED TRIES
