Jessica Taylor-Roberts, (née Roberts; born 10 May 1994) is a Welsh Rugby Union player who plays scrum half for the Wales women's national rugby union team and Sale Sharks.[1] She made her debut for the Wales national squad in 2021, representing the team at the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship.[2]

Jess Taylor-Roberts
Date of birth (1994-05-10) 10 May 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthSwansea, South Wales
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight63.18 kg (9 st 13.3 lb)
SchoolAmman Valley Comprehensive School
UniversityCardiff Metropolitan University
Occupation(s)Primary school teacher, rugby player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Sale Sharks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Barnsley Ladies RFC ()
2020– Sale Sharks ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021– Wales 2
Correct as of 11 June 2021

Club career

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Roberts was very accomplished in sports at school, gaining notable achievements in hockey and football before deciding to focus on rugby.[3] She began playing sevens while attending Amman Valley Comprehensive, and then joined the Scarlets under-18s side.[2]

Roberts continued to play rugby while attending Cardiff Metropolitan University, where her team featured in the BUCS Final at Twickenham on two occasions.[3]

Following a move to Barnsley, Roberts then played rugby for Barnsley Ladies for four seasons before signing with Sale Sharks, her current club, in September 2020.[4]

International career

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Roberts was picked for the Wales national team after impressing coaches during training with the Sale Sharks. She made her test debut in April 2021 when Wales played France in the first round of the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship.[2]

She has won two caps in her rugby career to date.[1]

Personal life

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As a child, Roberts attended Amman Valley Comprehensive School[2] before studying at Cardiff Metropolitan University,[4] where she graduated in 2015.

Alongside her rugby career, Taylor-Roberts is a primary school teacher at Parkside Primary Academy in Barnsley, where she introduced Welsh to the curriculum.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jess Roberts". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  2. ^ a b c d "Scrum-half Jess delighted to receive her first senior Wales cap". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  3. ^ a b "'The experience of playing for your country is so emotional'". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  4. ^ a b c "Wales Women given licence to play - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
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