On the 16th of March 2013 a confident England came to Cardiff in search of a Grand Slam only to be thwarted by one of the greatest Welsh victories in the history of the Championship. Wales themselves had suffered a double blow in losing their coach Warren Gatland to Lions duties and slipping up in their first home match to an Irish defeat. However, Rob Howley, as interim coach, took his team on an amazing run of three away wins in a row to set up a dramatic chance of Wales winning the Six nations at home. Wales needed to win by a margin of 8 points….. they did it with a margin of 27, denying England the Grand Slam. It was Wales’ biggest win over England in history.
Jamie Roberts had been the focal point of Warren Gatland’s strategy since switching him from fullback to centre and this competition was to prove how effective that strategy was. Everyone knew what Jamie was going to do but defences could do nothing about it…. allowing Wales to get over the gain-line again and again keeping England permanently on the back foot.
Coaches and players were so delighted with this win they dubbed it better than the slam they had won the previous season. The “Better than a Slam” 10th Anniversary Jamie Roberts is a unique fully logoed piece depicting the Admiral strip worn by Jamie on that momentous occasion.
As a celebrity ambassador for Noah’s Ark Jamie is hosting a year of events to celebrate his rugby career and raise money for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity.
Please send your bids for this unique piece of rugby memorabilia to andy@30-3.co.uk email bids will end at 5pm on Friday the 24th of February. The highest bid will be carried into the JR12 Testimonial event at the Cardiff Arms Park on the same evening.
Good luck and happy bidding!
