Jamie Roberts lands in Wellington ahead of the Rugby World Cup
RUGBY WORLD: Who are the jokers with Wales?
JAMIE ROBERTS: Tom Shanklin has had to retire now but there are still a few jokers in the squad. Stephen Jones continues with his 1930s banter while the least funny guy is Gethin Jenkins. He offers nothing really, he’s just not funny at all.
RW: And the funniest?
JR: Andy Powell. He’s the hub of attention.
RW: Who are your best and worst room-mates?
JR: The worst is Craig Mitchell – he snores like anything. It was terrible and I had to get my own room. The best depends what mood I’m in. If I’m in a lively mood it’s good to room with guys who chat a lot; if all I want to do is get to sleep the best guys are quiet fellas.
RW: Which player spends the longest in front of the mirror?
JR: Typically I’d have to credit Lee Byrne and James Hook. Gavin Henson is the same. I just do my hair and that’s it.
Carl Hayman employs an odd tactic to stop Wales getting the ball
RW: What’s your dream holiday?
JR: A road trip around California. I’ve done it twice and the best bit is Vegas. I’ve done it in a Mustang convertible – the Pacific Coast Highway is great.
RW: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on the pitch?
JR: It was quite funny watching the Wales-Barbarians game on telly when Carl Hayman’s shirt came off and the ball got stuck in it. I always love to see a big tackle, then for the players to get up and shake hands. There’s always a bit of sledging too. It’s a great feeling to dish it out when you’re winning but it’s not so good when you’re on the receiving end and losing. I get the usual, something about my massive jaw or my massive head.
RW: If your house was on fire, what three things would you save?
JR: My Mac – it’s got my pictures and everything on it. My Rolex Daytona – it’s a nice watch. And probably my uni work.
RW: Who are your three dream dinner party guests?
JR: I’ll go with Elisha Cuthbert. She plays Jack Bauer’s daughter in 24 and is in The Girl Next Door. Ricky Gervais for comedy and then I’d have to have a sporting legend like Eric Cantona.
RW: Do you have any bugbears?
JR: At the moment I hate guys wearing the All Saints look: jeans tucked into big boots with a low v-neck top. It’s straight off the mannequin. You see a lot of it in Cardiff and it’s not good. Jeans tucked into big, undone boots? Horrible.
RW: Do you know any good jokes?
JR: My dad told me one the other day. A guy goes into church in London and sees a sign on the wall next to a telephone saying it’s £10,000 for a call. He thinks that’s a lot for a call and asks a priest why it’s £10,000. He replies, “It’s to call God, a direct call.” The guy then goes on to Birmingham and goes to another church where he sees the same sign on the wall. He asks another priest why’s it £10,000 for a call and he says, “So you can speak to God.” He continues to travel to churches around England. They all have the same notice on the wall and he gets the same response from the priests. Then he visits a church in Cardiff and sees the same sign on the wall but it’s 50p for a call. So he says to the priest, “I’ve been to all these churches in England and it’s £10,000 a call. Why’s it 50p in Cardiff to speak to God?” The priest replies, “Because it’s a local call here.”
RW: Any embarrassing moments?
JR: No doubt there have been a few in the bedroom that I can’t mention. I get tucked up by the boys quite a lot on nights out, too, in front of groups of girls. I just get ripped into on nights out; it’s embarrassing but funny at the same time.
RW: Who’s your ideal woman?
JR: Someone who challenges me intellectually and who has a good smile.
RW: What can’t you live without?
JR: Happiness. And smiling.
This article appeared in the October 2011 issue of Rugby World Magazine.
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