diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
index d9824139718..ca9326b8141 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def load_list_of_tasks(ds, play, block=None, role=None, task_include=None, use_h
     return task_list
 
 
-def load_list_of_roles(ds, current_role_path=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
+def load_list_of_roles(ds, play, current_role_path=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
     '''
     Loads and returns a list of RoleInclude objects from the datastructure
     list of role definitions
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def load_list_of_roles(ds, current_role_path=None, variable_manager=None, loader
 
     roles = []
     for role_def in ds:
-        i = RoleInclude.load(role_def, current_role_path=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+        i = RoleInclude.load(role_def, play=play, current_role_path=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
         roles.append(i)
 
     return roles
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index f4c627b4155..b1f5440d743 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ class Play(Base, Taggable, Become):
         if ds is None:
             ds = []
 
-        role_includes = load_list_of_roles(ds, variable_manager=self._variable_manager, loader=self._loader)
+        role_includes = load_list_of_roles(ds, play=self, variable_manager=self._variable_manager, loader=self._loader)
 
         roles = []
         for ri in role_includes:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
index 48d96e6f096..a54febe1feb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from ansible.playbook.base import Base
 from ansible.playbook.become import Become
 from ansible.playbook.conditional import Conditional
 from ansible.playbook.taggable import Taggable
+from ansible.template import Templar
 from ansible.utils.path import unfrackpath
 
 
@@ -41,7 +42,11 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
 
     _role = FieldAttribute(isa='string')
 
-    def __init__(self, role_basedir=None):
+    def __init__(self, play=None, role_basedir=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
+        self._play             = play
+        self._variable_manager = variable_manager
+        self._loader           = loader
+
         self._role_path    = None
         self._role_basedir = role_basedir
         self._role_params  = dict()
@@ -112,6 +117,14 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         if not role_name or not isinstance(role_name, string_types):
             raise AnsibleError('role definitions must contain a role name', obj=ds)
 
+        # if we have the required datastructures, and if the role_name
+        # contains a variable, try and template it now
+        if self._play and self._variable_manager:
+            all_vars = self._variable_manager.get_vars(loader=self._loader, play=self._play)
+            templar = Templar(loader=self._loader, variables=all_vars)
+            if templar._contains_vars(role_name):
+                role_name = templar.template(role_name)
+
         return role_name
 
     def _load_role_path(self, role_name):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py
index 93cf0e21794..07ebf3f0d62 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ class RoleInclude(RoleDefinition):
     FIXME: docstring
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, role_basedir=None):
-        super(RoleInclude, self).__init__(role_basedir=role_basedir)
+    def __init__(self, play=None, role_basedir=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
+        super(RoleInclude, self).__init__(play=play, role_basedir=role_basedir, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def load(data, current_role_path=None, parent_role=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
+    def load(data, play, current_role_path=None, parent_role=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
 
         assert isinstance(data, string_types) or isinstance(data, dict) or isinstance(data, AnsibleBaseYAMLObject)
 
-        ri = RoleInclude(role_basedir=current_role_path)
+        ri = RoleInclude(play=play, role_basedir=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
         return ri.load_data(data, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
index 61e92ce9b50..cd56e606331 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class RoleMetadata(Base):
         if self._owner:
             current_role_path = os.path.dirname(self._owner._role_path)
 
-        return load_list_of_roles(ds, current_role_path=current_role_path, variable_manager=self._variable_manager, loader=self._loader)
+        return load_list_of_roles(ds, play=self._owner._play, current_role_path=current_role_path, variable_manager=self._variable_manager, loader=self._loader)
 
     def _load_galaxy_info(self, attr, ds):
         '''