JAMIE’S NEW LIFE AS A DAD
JAMIE ROBERTS says he has a new-found respect for rugbyplaying dads having become one himself. His fiancee Nicole Ramson gave birth to their first child last month, a boy named Tomos Rhys Roberts.
Tomos weighed in at “9lbs 4oz of prime Welsh beef”, to quote his dad, who said he would be “crossing the gainline in no time”.
Now, Dragons centre Jamie has been talking about fatherhood on the Rugby-Pass Offload podcast.
“It’s amazing,” said the Wales and Lions star.
“I have a new-found respect and appreciation for rugby-playing dads.
“I never quite realised how challenging that would be.”
While relishing fatherhood, Roberts has also been enjoying watching Wales secure the Triple Crown and has picked out his former Test teammate Ken Owens for particular praise.
“He’s my unsung hero,” he said. “He probably isn’t getting too much credit publicly, but I think Ken has been immense.
“He was magnificent last weekend against England. You talk about putting some shots in. There were some real momentum-stopping tackles from him and the lineout was excellent.
“I just think at the minute Ken is head and shoulders above other hookers in the UK.
“If you are picking a Lions starting Test side, I think you would have to go with Ken Owens at the minute.
“That’s a testament to him walking back into that Welsh side and performing at the level he is, having not played in something like three or four months.”
The 94-cap Roberts is convinced Wales can now go on to complete the Grand Slam.
“They won’t lose to Italy,” he declared, looking ahead to next weekend’s fourth round Six Nations clash in Rome.
“They have got too much quality and, where Italy are at the moment, I just can’t see how they will threaten to beat Wales.
“If Wales are on for a Grand Slam in Paris, I can see them beating France out there, especially after the disruption France have gone through.”