The utility back featured in the opening two Tests before missing the third due to a wrist injury picked up in Pretoria. His partnership with Irish talisman Brian O’Drsicoll earned rave reviews after the duo’s combination tormented the Springboks in Durban and Pretoria.
“This Tour has been a brilliant experience and I would like to dedicate this award to the hard work and effort put in by a lot of people in the Lions’ squad and management,” said Roberts.
Before the third Test, Lions assistant coach Warren Gatland, who is Roberts’ national coach in Wales, gave his assessment of the man who terrorised the Springbok centres in Durban and Pretoria.
“Jamie has been one of the most improved players on the tour and it has been great for him to play inside Brian,” said Gatland. “Before Brian left for home I thanked him for developing Jamie so much. He just laughed and said ‘I hope he hasn’t learned too much’. They formed a very strong partnership for us and complimented each other so well.”
Roberts led the voting for player of the series, which was compiled after each of the 10 tour games, with England’s Simon Shaw second and Ireland’s Tommy Bowe third.
