Clayton Hopes "Rugby banter" Can Win the World Cup for Wales!
Jonny Clayton is hoping that “rugby banter” can lead Wales to Betway World Cup glory.
The Pontyberem ace has hit a rich vein of form including reaching the Players Championship final last year and winning his first European Tour title just a few weeks ago.
That has seen him leap to World No 27 and a place in the Welsh World Cup squad for the May 31-June 3 event at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
But Clayton, 43, believes that rugby chat can help him and team-mate Gerwyn Price produce scrum-thing special in Germany.
He said: “Gezzy and I get on get, we have the rugby banter because we are both former players and that will be good for us.
“I guess rugby banter means we can just talk about the game but it means we have a common bond away from darts.
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Clayton and Price recently met in the PDC Austrian Darts Open final last month.[/caption]
“I’m called The Ferret because that was a nickname I was called from my rugby days. I was a scrum-half and I was suddenly called it by my team-mates and it stuck.
“It’s absolutely massive for me to be picked for the World Cup team and for my country, I’m very proud to have been given this opportunity.
“If we can produce something in Germany it would make history and I’d love to do that. I’ve played for my country in the BDO, but to get a call-up in the PDC with that sort of quality is huge for me.
“Some of the less-fancied nations have done well in recent years and so have Wales, so hopefully Gezzy and I can do the same.”
Clayton has suddenly emerged as a dangerous player in the PDC rankings, losing out to Michael van Gerwen in the Players Championship late last year after a terrific run.
He added: “I think it’s just confidence that gives you a bit more consistency. It’s my fourth year in the PDC and I’ve gradually improved.
“Once you move up the rankings it doesn’t get easier, but you have a better first round draw which allows you to get used to the board.
“I’ve kept my full-time job as a plasterer. That helps because it keeps me grounded. It also keeps the pressure off my darts. It means even if I lose I know the bills are getting paid. It means I can relax when I’m on the oche.
“If I go further up the rankings with more tournaments it would be difficult to keep my full-time job but for now I’m happy with it.
“For now I’m just over the moon to be in the Wales World Cup team. It would be a dream to win and go down in history alongside the likes of Leighton Rees and Alan Evans.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)
Clayton and Price recently met in the PDC Austrian Darts Open final last month.[/caption]
“I’m called The Ferret because that was a nickname I was called from my rugby days. I was a scrum-half and I was suddenly called it by my team-mates and it stuck.
“It’s absolutely massive for me to be picked for the World Cup team and for my country, I’m very proud to have been given this opportunity.
“If we can produce something in Germany it would make history and I’d love to do that. I’ve played for my country in the BDO, but to get a call-up in the PDC with that sort of quality is huge for me.
“Some of the less-fancied nations have done well in recent years and so have Wales, so hopefully Gezzy and I can do the same.”
Clayton has suddenly emerged as a dangerous player in the PDC rankings, losing out to Michael van Gerwen in the Players Championship late last year after a terrific run.
He added: “I think it’s just confidence that gives you a bit more consistency. It’s my fourth year in the PDC and I’ve gradually improved.
“Once you move up the rankings it doesn’t get easier, but you have a better first round draw which allows you to get used to the board.
“I’ve kept my full-time job as a plasterer. That helps because it keeps me grounded. It also keeps the pressure off my darts. It means even if I lose I know the bills are getting paid. It means I can relax when I’m on the oche.
“If I go further up the rankings with more tournaments it would be difficult to keep my full-time job but for now I’m happy with it.
“For now I’m just over the moon to be in the Wales World Cup team. It would be a dream to win and go down in history alongside the likes of Leighton Rees and Alan Evans.”
By Phil Lanning (@lannomedia)