The WRU supports the service’s Give Blood campaign and who better to show the Union’s backing than third year medical student Roberts, set to win his first international cap against Scotland in the RBS Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday, and the legendary seventies full-back and current doctor JPR?
Both medicine men have first hand experience of the importance of giving blood based on the dual professions they both hold dear.
“I’ve often said I spent the whole of the first half of my professional career breaking bones and the second half putting them back together,” said Williams. “I actually gave blood for the first time last New Year, which shows you it’s never too late for anyone to start. I felt really good afterwards and I’d encourage anyone who can to give it a go, it really is an invaluable service for the medical profession.
“In my day most of us had other jobs and it was hard enough to fit the rugby and the medicine into a week then, so I can’t imagine the dedication Jamie must have, but the Wales squad has a few who have other interests, Alun-Wyn Jones will be a lawyer one day to name just one and it can only be good for them.
“The studying will give them a release from the intensity of the competition. Jamie is an impressive kid and I wish him all the best for the weekend, he’s got a good head on his shoulders and I don’t think he’ll look back from here.”
Roberts said on the day that he was announced in new coach Warren Gatland’s first home selection earlier this week that the realisation of a dream was taking a while to sink in, but meeting JPR certainly made his situation hit home.
“JPR did it all in the game really didn’t he? It just shows you I’m right at the beginning and I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and hope to progress,” said Roberts. “If I get to anywhere near what he has achieved in rugby or in life in general I’ll be a happy man and it was great to meet him and to support such a good cause and one that is so important to the medical profession.”
