That is something he will do this week, while his teammates prepare to meet Toulouse for the Natixis Cup at Aberdeen Stadium on Saturday. The privately organised match is the first clash of French Top 14 clubs in Hong Kong.

"I will continue with my rehab and be around the squad and hopefully attend some training," Roberts said. "I'm here primarily to continue my work with the Racing Metro conditioners as well as work with the coaches on my skills."

Roberts, 26, was in the city earlier this year as part of the Lions squad who took on the Barbarians on June 1 at Hong Kong Stadium.

"It was incredible. I have never played in conditions quite like it with the heat and humidity with four 20-minute periods rather than two 40-minute halves, with the drinks breaks," Roberts recounted. "I have played for Wales at the Sevens before and then in Hong Kong with the Lions.

"The crowd was similar and it was just a fantastic occasion."

The chance to play for his new club, Racing Metro, in Hong Kong was dashed in September when he was injured in a Top 14 match against Perpignan. "I rolled my ankle and tore my ligaments off the bone, so had to have a ligament reconstruction on that. I've got about another four weeks of rehab to go and hopefully by the end of November, I will be back playing."

Unfortunately, for Hong Kong fans, it won't be soon enough but Wales will be hoping the good doctor - the latest in an illustrious line of Welsh internationals who have had medical careers including the legendary J.P.R. Williams - will be fit and ready for the November internationals.

Roberts has had an amazing year, starting with Wales winning the Six Nations in the best possible way by denying England the grand slam and then playing a decisive role in the third test for the Lions.

The giant centre, who was named player of the series during the losing 2009 visit by the Lions to South Africa, was tipped to start in the tests against Australia.

But a hamstring injury before the first test ruled him out and it was touch-and-go if he would play the third test, especially with emotions running high for Brian O'Driscoll to be picked.

Lions coach Warren Gatland refused to bow to sentiment and picked Roberts, ending O'Driscoll's fourth Lions' series as a spectator. The pressure was on for Roberts to perform.

"Yeah, there was massive pressure coming in for O'Driscoll, but it was more the pressure of the moment and the occasion, and to perform. It is all about how you deal with that, you stay focused and concentrate on the job and just play your role in the team. You can't be selfish, it is all about the team and doing the best for the team and knowing your role," Roberts said.

The icing on his cake was a try that sealed the victory. "I've run that line a thousand times and almost always, it ends up with a thumping tackle.

"But the gap just opened, I took it and I was over. It is a moment that I will always savour."

There are likely to be many more moments like this for Roberts, who in August signed on for Racing Metro and moved from Cardiff to Paris. He is reportedly earning £400,000 (HK$4.9 million) per season with the French club, and is ninth on the top-10 money list of foreign signings in the Top 14 (Toulon fly half Jonny Wilkinson is the highest paid with Racing Metro's Jonny Sexton a close second).

"I wanted to experience a different lifestyle in a new city and I'm getting paid well, so it was an entire package that I couldn't refuse really," Roberts said. "I am living in the heart of Paris, it's a wonderful experience, it's completely different - chalk and cheese to what life was like back in Cardiff."

And on Saturday, Roberts will have his feet up soaking in the Hong Kong atmosphere.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Roberts packs brains with brawn

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kwLG70a1moaeenHqsu82gZpqqpJ6wrbGOamptbmBthHC2wKagnmWipK%2BmvtOsZKmZk6DAbq7RmqCnq12Xv6LDzQ%3D%3D