Ben Roberts is one of the seniors and a veteran who has played 12 tests for Toa Samoa including in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

He also played for Toa Samoa in the 2013 World Cup in Europe.

But he is just as excited as he would be if this was his first time being selected to play for his country.

The Toa Samoa team touched down yesterday morning for a week’s preparation in Samoa before the Rugby League World Cup starts next week in New Zealand.

Despite his experience at the World Cup events, he told the Samoa Observer yesterday morning that he is excited, humbled and blessed to be in the Toa Samoa squad again.

“Yeah it’s an honour. Never thought I’d be representing Samoa again after the last time I did, but getting the opportunity again, I am very excited to be in my third World Cup. 

According to the Australia N.R.L. news Roberts has played Rugby League in Australia, and represented the New Zealand Kiwis but  later moved to Europe for the Super League.

He joined the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2006 as a five-eighth. He was originally recruited from Western Suburbs Magpies before he became a regular member of the N.S.W. R.L. Premier League team. 

He made his second international appearance for the New Zealand Kiwis at the 2007 ANZAC Test against the Australia national rugby league team in Brisbane

Five years later he was selected for Samoa in April 2013, for a test match against Tonga in Penrith, New South Wales. Later in the year he was selected for Samoa again, but this time for their 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign. He featured in all four games that the Samoans played, scoring two tries.

Roberts was also part of the Toa Samoa squad who competed in the 2014 Four Nations tournament against the New Zealand Kiwis, Australia Kangaroos and England.

He featured in all three games of Toa Samoa for the 2014 Four Nations.

Coach Parish says that the selection of Ben Roberts will be a great contribution for the squad given his performances in his club recently.

Roberts is also excited about the new looking team of the Toa Samoa squad for the upcoming World Cup.

“I think it’s a great balance of having some new boys (and congratulations to them for making the team - obviously they deserved it) and of course old boys around. I think this camp will produce great results and we are looking forward to it.”