The ink was barely dry on Jamie Roberts’ retirement letter when Wales head coach Wayne Pivac asked the veteran centre to train with the squad again.

Roberts, who decided to hang up his boots on Tuesday, has revealed that Pivac contacted him as the Welsh prepared to face the Springboks in the series decider at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The 35-year-old played 94 Tests for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions.

“It was really weird. I was writing my retirement statement on Monday night and getting quite emotional about it,” Roberts, who is in South Africa doing commentary work on the series, told Wales Online.

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“I just checked my phone and I had a voicemail from Wayne. I thought what’s going on here, so I listened to his message and he said, ‘Oh mate, we’re short of numbers, would you like to train with the lads?’

“I don’t think Wayne knew I was going to announce my retirement. I had a beer in the changing room with the boys after the win in Bloemfontein and he knew I was in Cape Town doing commentary work.

“When duty calls, duty calls, so I trained with them this afternoon [Tuesday]. It was a nice little last-day sort of thing. I had the bib on! I was marking everyone. I was playing 12, 13 and wing.

“I’ve been in those Test sides where you’ve got quite a few niggles and you haven’t got the right numbers for training. It’s difficult. I’ve been there.”

Roberts is not expected to be named in the Wales lineup when Pivac names his team on Thursday.

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