So how did Jamie Roberts spend his final day as a rugby player? Well, guess what, he spent it training with Wales. You really do have to wonder just who writes his scripts!
Just hours ahead of announcing his retirement, the 94-cap centre was back on duty with the national squad, helping them prepare for Saturday’s deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
He had received the SOS call from head coach Wayne Pivac with Wales down on numbers after two bruising encounters with the Springboks. There could hardly have been a better or more fitting way to bring down the curtain on Roberts' illustrious career, with representing his country having meant so much to him.
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Explaining how it all came about, he said: “It was really weird. I was writing my retirement statement on Monday night and getting quite emotional about it. I just checked my phone and I had a voicemail off Wayne. I thought what’s going on here, so I listened to his message and he said ‘Oh mate, we’re short of numbers, would you like to train with the lads?’.
“I don’t think Wayne knew I was going to announce my retirement. I had a beer in the changing room with the boys after the win in Bloemfontein and he knew I was in Cape Town doing commentary work.
“When duty calls, duty calls, so I trained with them this afternoon (Tuesday). It was a nice little last day sort of thing. I had the bib on! I was marking everyone. I was playing 12, 13 and wing.
“I’ve been in those Test sides where you’ve got quite a few niggles and you haven’t got the right numbers for training. It’s difficult. I’ve been there.”
Roberts, who is in South Africa working for Sky Sports, continued: “It was great fun being back among quite a few lads who I played with, knowing I was about to pull the plug! A lot of the coaches were there as players when I started my path, so it was pretty cool.
“It was great to share today with the likes of Alun Wyn, Stephen Jones, Melon and Nugget, guys who have been hugely important in my career. It was really nice to be back among the lads on my last day.
"To be in South Africa as well is quite poignant because it’s a place that has held quite a lot of fond memories for me down the years. It’s pretty cool. I am at peace.”
So, is there any chance the 35-year-old Roberts might be pressed into service for Saturday’s decisive final Test?
“I think they will be all right mate. They don’t need an old carthorse like me!,” he replies.
“It was just good to see how they are preparing for the weekend. The lads are excited, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a chance to create history yet again for those boys. Winning a Test match here in South Africa is something no previous generation of Welsh rugby player has achieved. It’s an absolutely awesome achievement and the lads can be hugely proud.”
As for his decision to call it a day and hang up his boots, Roberts said: “The timing was right. I am 35, I have done what I set out to achieve in the game and much more. I am just at a point where I am satisfied and I don’t want to go that year too far and injure myself, especially now I have young children.”
So what next for the man who has already done so much both on and off the field, with his glittering playing career for Wales, the Lions and a host of clubs, as well as his lengthy list of academic qualifications? Well, at the moment, he doesn’t have a definite plan.
“That excites me more than bothers me. It doesn’t worry me one bit. I’m just looking forward to relaxing for a few months, having a holiday with the family and spending some quality time with them,” he said.
“There is no way I am going to rush into anything. The future is probably going to require some trial and error, but I will take my time to work that out.
“I desperately want to give back to the game and I feel I have got a lot of experience to give back, it’s just in what capacity. I need to knock whatever few brain cells I have left together and work out the best way of doing that, with the lifestyle I want to have with my family.
“I think that will be in a media capacity for the near future, but I’m open to opportunity. I am keeping my options open and I will welcome any conversations with anyone in any walk of business. God knows what my passion is going to be moving forwards.
“I feel very fortunate to have played until I am 35, especially considering the way I approach the game. The main emotion is just gratitude. You get to the end and it’s a sense of being really grateful for the opportunity. I am going to miss it, but I am finishing extremely happy.”
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