Wales

Blues and Wales centre Jamie Roberts has revealed that he was hampered by his wrist injury for the whole of last season, but after surgery, he is determined to recover and be firing at the World Cup next year.

Roberts announced himself as an international star in the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, with his blockbusting bursts up in the midfield causing the Springboks all sorts of trouble.

One of the main features of his game was a strong hand off, and the 23 year-old has explained that his inability to do so last season was the cause for him having been somewhat disappointing in the Welsh No.12 jersey.

"I played the entire season not being able to hand off with my right hand because of it," he told the South Wales Echo.

"I couldn't do a press-up, I wasn't able to bench-press and I was unable to do any exercises that involved the wrist being bent back.

"But the main problem was the lack of a hand-off because it's one of the main strengths of my game and in a position like centre it's vital.

"Any time a player came on my right I couldn't fend them off. There was nothing I could do."

Roberts had surgery last week to cure the problem, and he is set to be fully recovered to take his place as a key figure in Warren Gatland’s squad going into the World Cup in New Zealand next year.

"I've played a lot of rugby in the last two or three years so, hopefully, this will give me the chance to train really well and get my body in peak physical shape for the end of the year.

"Next year is a huge one for Welsh rugby, with the World Cup to come in New Zealand and I want to be ready."