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Roberts open to move abroad
ESPNscrum Staff
November 23, 2011
Wales' Jamie Roberts celebrates his second score of the game, Fiji v Wales, Rugby World Cup, Waikato Stadium, Taranaki, New Zealand, October 2, 2011
Roberts will be a man in demand when his contract finishes in 2013 © Getty Images
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Teams: Cardiff Blues | Wales

Wales and Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts has refused to rule out the prospect of moving to France or England once his current contract expires in the summer of 2013.

Roberts, who is on course to qualify as a doctor at the same time, is considering joining the many Wales players who have moved abroad to ply their trade in recent times - including Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne, James Hook and Andy Powell. However, the 25-year-old insists he has yet to make any decision about his future, and will not do so until much nearer the time.

"My contract with the Blues has 18 months to run and I hope that is when I will graduate in medicine," Roberts told The Guardian. "It will conclude a four-year plan of mine which was that finishing my degree course would coincide with the end of my contract with the Blues.

"It means that in 18 months I will reach a huge crossroads in my career. It will come around very quickly and I am pretty sure that whatever path I take will be decided for me nearer the time.

"I just hope I am still playing rugby by then because there is so much that can happen in that length of time."

In the meantime, Roberts confirmed he should be fit to face Australia next week after missing the Blues' most recent Heineken Cup match with a knee injury. According to Roberts, the match at the Millennium Stadium is full of importance for the whole team.

"We have some big incentives to win," he added. "First, it will be Shane Williams's final match for Wales: he has been an inspiration to many and it is frightening to think how many youngsters have taken up rugby through watching him.

"Second, we want to get one back on Australia for beating us in the World Cup play-off last month."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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