Jamie Huw Roberts (born 8 November 1986) is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a centre.
Beginning in 2005, Roberts played for Cardiff RFC, Cardiff Blues, Racing Métro, Cambridge University, Harlequins, Bath, the Stormers, the Dragons and the Waratahs. He won 94 caps for Wales between 2008 and 2017 and three for the British & Irish Lions on their tours to South Africa in 2009 and Australia in 2013.
Roberts qualified as a medical doctor in parallel with his rugby career, and since his retirement from professional rugby in 2022 he has started practising as a physician.
Roberts represented Wales at all levels between Under-16 and Under-21. He was part of the Under-21 team that won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2005. During the 2005–06 season, he represented Cardiff RFC. He played 11 times and scored five tries. In the 2006–07 season, he sustained a shoulder injury but recovered to play 17 times and score 10 tries for his amateur club.
With players away at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Roberts was called up to play for the Cardiff Blues, making his debut against the Ospreys; the Blues won 17–15. He then scored a try against the Dragons and two against Glasgow Warriors. This form led to continued selection for the Blues and led to selection in the Wales squad for the Six Nations.
Roberts made his debut against Scotland in the second match of the championship, starting on the wing as Wales won 30–15.
Roberts was left out for the next match against Italy, with Mark Jones beating him to the number 14 jersey. Jones remained in that position for the rest of the tournament. Wales won their second Grand Slam in four years.
Roberts was included in the squad for the summer tour test series in South Africa. Due to an injury to Lee Byrne, Roberts started the match at full back. Despite Wales putting in a disappointing display, Roberts scored his first test try. He was replaced by Morgan Stoddart, and Wales lost the match 43–17. Roberts was again selected the following week, but as inside centre. He had never played in that position before. Wales lost 37–21, with two infringements by Roberts leading to points for South Africa. Wales lost the series 2–0, but Roberts stayed in this position throughout his career.
After the game against South Africa, Blues coach Dai Young gave Roberts a chance in the position and he was named in the Wales squad for the Autumn internationals. For the first match against the South Africa, Roberts was selected at outside centre, a fourth position for Wales in as many tests. He was moved to inside centre as Gavin Henson pulled out with an injury and Tom Shanklin moved to outside centre. Wales lost the game 20–15. Roberts was then named on the bench for the match against Canada. Wales won 34–13 with Roberts appearing as substitute. Roberts then returned for the match with New Zealand. Wales lost the game 29–9. He was once again selected at inside centre for the match against Australia, but Roberts collided with Australian captain Stirling Mortlock in the second minute. Mortlock was immediately replaced but Roberts initially played on and was crucial in the build-up to Shane Williams' opening Wales try. He was later replaced by Andrew Bishop in the 18th minute. Wales finally claimed a victory over a southern hemisphere team, winning 21–18. Roberts had a fractured skull and was out for two months.
Roberts returned to the Blues setup two months later and played in the 14-man Blues victory away to Gloucester which saw the Blues become the fifth team to win all their games in the Heineken Cup group stage. Roberts was then selected in the Wales squad for the 2009 Six Nations. In the opening match against Scotland, Roberts won a man of the match award in the 26–13 win. He was again selected for the match against England, which Wales won 23–15. Roberts played again at 12 for the game against France. This time he was kept quiet and was replaced midway through the second half by Gavin Henson. Wales lost 21–15. Roberts was selected at outside centre with Gavin Henson against Italy. Wales won 20–15 but not by the amount they were hoping for, as they were looking to increase their points difference for the final round. Roberts was put on the bench for the tournament decider against Ireland. He came on just before half-time as Lee Byrne was injured. Roberts failed to match Brian O'Driscoll, who scored a try, as Ireland claimed victory 17–15 to win the Grand Slam for the first time in 61 years.
Despite the disappointing end to the Six Nations, Roberts continued to play well for the Blues as they won the EDF Energy Cup with a 50–12 win over Gloucester. On 21 April 2009, Roberts was named as a member of the British & Irish Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa. He was one of six Blues selected.
The Blues also made it into the Heineken Cup semi-finals thanks to a win over Toulouse. But they lost in a penalty shoot-out against Leicester Tigers after the match was drawn 26–26. Roberts scored a try and set up another try.
2009 Lions Tour of South Africa
Before the tour, Roberts was in contention for the inside centre role. Roberts was selected to play in the opening match of the tour, against the Royal XV. He was partnered by Keith Earls in the centre. Despite a dour display from the Lions, Roberts held his own in the altitude and along with Lee Byrne and Tommy Bowe made an early claim for the test spot in the 37–25 win. In the same game, Flutey came on but picked up an injury ruling him out for a week and a half. This meant that Roberts was selected once again for the match against the Golden Lions, this time partnered with Brian O'Driscoll. He scored two tries and made several breaks as the Lions won 74–10. He was then left out of the next game against the Free State Cheetahs, as the Lions scraped victory 26–24. Roberts was once again selected in the centre with O'Driscoll for the next match against the Sharks. There were also signs of concerns as he hurt his shoulder and had to have it strapped. Coach Ian McGeechan played down any injury worries, saying that it was just bruising. The Lions won 39–3. Riki Flutey was then given his first start against Western Province, but failed to impress.
Roberts was named in the centre with O'Driscoll for the first test match in Durban. The Lions lost narrowly 26–21, despite a late comeback and their outscoring the opposition by three tries to two. In the game Roberts offloaded to O'Driscoll to set up the first try for Tom Croft. He made a tandem tackle with O'Driscoll on winger JP Pietersen, knocking him back 20 metres (66 ft). His partnership with O'Driscoll was touted as one of the Lions' best centre combinations ever.
Roberts was selected again with O'Driscoll in the centre for the match at Loftus Versfeld. This was significant for Roberts because it was where he had played his first test in the centre (and also his first ever match at centre). He had a quieter game and never missed a tackle. But it wasn't enough for the Lions as they went down 28–25 to last minute Morné Steyn penalty from 53 metres (174 ft) out. This gave the Springboks an unassailable 2–0 lead in the series, to give them revenge for the 1997 defeat that the Boks had suffered to the Lions. They also outscored the Lions three tries to one with JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana and Jacque Fourie all scoring. Rob Kearney scored the Lions try. Roberts was taken off in 69th minute due to a sprained wrist and replaced by Ronan O'Gara. This proved costly as O'Gara missed a tackle which led to Fourie's try and conceded the penalty which Steyn kicked. Roberts wasn't the only one to pick up an injury. Props Gethin Jenkins (broken cheekbone), Adam Jones (dislocated shoulder) and centre partner Brian O'Driscoll (concussion) all picking up injuries. This led to uncontested scrums, which favoured the Springboks. This is what many believed to be the difference.
This next day, coach Ian McGeechan announced that both props Jenkins and Jones would miss the final test and Roberts and O'Driscoll were major doubts. The following Monday, it was announced that O'Driscoll would be flying home but Roberts along with Tommy Bowe, would most likely play in the final test. But when the team was announced, Roberts' place was taken by Riki Flutey with Tommy Bowe in the outside centre. The Lions would go on to win 28–9 in the final test against a new look Springbok team, but the series was still lost 2–1. Roberts was selected as the Lions Player of the Series.