Wales centre Jamie Roberts has revealed how he played for the most part of last season one-handed due to a crippling injury to his right wrist.
The Cardiff Blues star had surgery last week to correct his wrist – picking up the injury in the second Lions Test against South Africa a year ago.
Roberts faces a five-month lay-off while he recovers but is chomping at the bit to get back on the playing field with his injury woes finally behind him – particularly with the World Cup at the front of his mind.
“I played the entire season not being able to hand off with my right hand because of it,” said the 23 year-old trainee doctor.
“I couldn’t do a press-up, I wasn’t able to bench-press and I was unable to do any exercises that involved the wrist being bent back.
“But the main problem was the lack of a hand-off because it’s one of the main strengths of my game and in a position like centre it’s vital. It became a big blow.
“Any time a player came on my right I couldn’t fend them off. There was nothing I could do.
“It means five months out of the game but I just have to look at the positives.
“I’ve played a lot of rugby in the last two or three years so, hopefully, this will give me the chance to train really well and get my body in peak physical shape for the end of the year.
“Next year is a huge one for Welsh rugby, with the World Cup to come and I want to be ready for it.
“There was an option to wait and have the operation after the World Cup, but the way I saw it I have to look after my health.
“It was a big decision, but my right hand is my dominant hand and I had to think of my career after rugby.”
