British & Irish Lion Jamie Roberts is ready to show he has put his injuries behind him as he prepares to battle for the Welsh centre shirt in this year’s Six Nations.
Roberts, capped 53 times for Wales, has endured a frustrating time with injuries this season, damaging ankle ligaments in only his third game since moving to French club Racing Metro this summer.
A knee injury also followed meaning he has spent most of the last three months on the treatment table.
But after missing out on Wales’ autumn internationals, Roberts, who recovered from a hamstring injury to score the final try in the Lions’ decisive series victory over the Qantas Wallabies, is looking to leave his mark.
He will be up against in-form Scarlet Scott Williams for the shirt while Jonathan Davies is also expected to feature at some point during the Six Nations which starts next month.
Davies, also a member of the victorious Lions squad last summer, has been named in the Wales squad despite currently recovering from a chest muscle injury and Roberts welcomed the battle for places.
“I’ve always said the competition is healthy and it’s no different in the centres or any position in the Welsh team and ultimately that drives us forward,” he told WRU official website.
“I’m feeling good, fresh and ready to go, the challenge for me is to stay injury free for the rest of the season. I’ve got to do as much as I can to make sure that happens.
“Three doesn’t go into two, that’s for sure. We are well aware of that but I think that competition is going to bring out the best in all of us.
“Scot has been on red hot form this season, John is a quality player and I’ve struggled with injuries as well this season.
“This weekend is a big game, I need to get back into the Racing team, hopefully beat Toulouse and put in a good performance.”
