Jamie Roberts seals deal to join Harlequins next season

Wales centre Jamie Roberts has completed a deal to join Harlequins next season.

The 28-year-old British and Irish Lions back will move to the Twickenham Stoop this summer after two years in Paris with Top 14 giants Racing Metro.

Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea tipped former Cardiff Blues star Roberts to become "a massive contributor to the history of this club".

He told the club's official website: “The whole club is ecstatic to have signed a player of Jamie's quality. He is massively ambitious to achieve at both club and international level. As a role model to all of our players, he will be someone we can all learn from. 

“We know we won't see Jamie in the Harlequins jersey for a while yet, but when we do I know he will be a massive contributor to the history of this club, the development of our team and the development of young players like Joe Marchant and Harry Sloan."

Roberts has won 69 caps for Wales, winning two Six Nations Grand Slams and one Championship title. In 2011, he was a part of the side that finished fourth at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

He will join a side that suffered a disappoining campaign last time out as Quins finished eighth in the Aviva Premiership and missed out on European Champions Cup qualification.

"I'm delighted to have signed for Harlequins," he said. "Having played in Cardiff and in Paris, moving to London is a chance for me to experience and further develop my career in a different league.

"My desire to compete and win at both club and international level remains as strong as ever and the brand of rugby Harlequins play will challenge my skill-set and no doubt help me improve as a rugby player.

"You look at the calibre of the Harlequins squad and the coaching set-up; they are a team that are going to be competing at the top level year in, year out and that was a huge factor in my decision to sign."

Roberts is already a qualified doctor after studying at Cardiff University and will read for a Masters degree in Medical Science at Cambridge University during his time at Quins.

"I'm also delighted and feel very privileged to have been accepted to study at Cambridge University and look forward to furthering my education part-time alongside my professional playing career.

"That balance in my life has served me well in the past and I'm excited to start this new chapter in London."