“No. Definitely not. It [2023 World Cup] won’t be [a swansong]. I can’t guarantee you that, but I don’t think it will be. I reckon there’s still a bit to do. There’s still a bit in the tank” – England head coach Eddie Jones on retirement talk
Last Updated: 13/10/22 11:13pm
England coach Eddie Jones has said he does not believe the 2023 World Cup will be his last
Eddie Jones is determined for his long-standing association with the World Cup to continue beyond the conclusion of his England tenure next autumn.
Jones will step down after eight years in charge once France 2023 is complete and could return to his homeland Australia having been linked with a director of rugby role with the Wallabies.
Whatever his destination, the 62-year-old does not see his fifth World Cup being his last despite previously declaring that he would retire to Barbados to watch cricket when his time with England was over.
“No. Definitely not. It won’t be. I can’t guarantee you that, but I don’t think it will be,” said Jones, who has led England and Australia to World Cup finals and also won the competition as an assistant coach with South Africa.
“I reckon there’s still a bit to do. There’s still a bit in the tank. I rang up the boss of the Barbados IPL and he’s not interested…”
England begin the countdown to the World Cup this autumn when they face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham.
Once the Six Nations is complete they will play four warm-up games and the challenge facing Jones is to propel the team forwards while not revealing the details of their masterplan for the tournament.
“The one thing you want to be doing from here to the World Cup – and every coach will say the same – is improving,” he said.
Jones will lead England to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and then depart the job, having been head coach since 2016
“You don’t want to be static and you don’t want to show everything. If you show everything then teams come up with plans to stop you doing that.
“We want to win every Test in November but we don’t want to be showing any tactical developments that maybe we’ll want to use in the World Cup.
“You don’t want to show it in the warm-up games. You want to be able to do it on the training paddock consistently then be able to do it bang at the World Cup.”
Rob Burrow won eight Super League titles in a trophy-laden career for the Leeds Rhinos; he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 but believes there is still a lot of work to be done to fully understand its causes and has campaigned for more research
Last Updated: 12/10/22 5:49pm
Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and has campaigned for more research into the disease
Rob Burrow says he has no regrets about playing rugby league and would not discourage his children from following in his footsteps despite his battle with motor neurone disease.
The former Leeds and Great Britain scrum-half is now confined to a wheelchair and unable to perform basic functions without help as motor neurone disease takes an increasing hold of his body.
Former rugby players are 15 times more likely to suffer from MND than the average person according to a new study, but Burrow, who was diagnosed with the disease in December 2019, is not entirely convinced by the findings.
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A special moment for Leeds Rhinos legend Burrow as the whole of St James’ Park cheers for him!
A special moment for Leeds Rhinos legend Burrow as the whole of St James’ Park cheers for him!
“It was such small sample so I cannot really comment,” said Burrow.
“More research needs to be done.”
Burrow, who won eight Super League titles during his glittering career with the Rhinos, insists he would not change anything from his past and would be happy for children Macy (10), Maya (7) and Jackson (3) to take up rugby.
“I’d like my kids to do whatever sports they desire,” he said with the use of eye-recognition technology.
“There is no evidence that anything causes MND. I think I was so unlucky that I got the disease.
“The positives outweigh the negatives. I would not be the person I am today without the experience I got from playing rugby league, the friendships and bonds and life experiences, travelling the world.”
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Burrow wrote his name into Grand Final history with his stunning solo try which set Leeds Rhinos on course for victory in 2011
Burrow wrote his name into Grand Final history with his stunning solo try which set Leeds Rhinos on course for victory in 2011
Rob and his wife Lindsey, who cares for her husband full-time despite having to look after their three young children and holding down a job as a physiotherapist, are taking part in a documentary to highlight what it is like to live with motor neurone disease, with Burrow maintaining he is “not giving in, right until my last breath” as he has “too many reasons to live”.
“I’m a prisoner in my own body, that’s the way MND gets you. The lights are on but no one’s home,” says Burrow.
Lindsey also opens up about the difficulties the family experience and contemplates a future without her childhood sweetheart.
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The Burrow family speak about their charity work and the shirts they have designed for Leeds Rhinos
The Burrow family speak about their charity work and the shirts they have designed for Leeds Rhinos
“I’m out of my comfort zone, but at the end of the day it’s not about us,” she said.
“The reason for doing this is to raise awareness about how brutal and cruel and devastating MND is and that it doesn’t just affect the person, it affects the whole family.
“Me doing an interview is nothing compared to what Rob and many other sufferers go through, it puts it into perspective and, if we can help one other person or raise more awareness and more funds for research, it can only be a good thing.
“It’s really tough doing those interviews, but I don’t want people to be sad.
“Yes, it is a sad story, but there is a lot of hope in there as well, seeing the kids and just how much they love life.”
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Sinfield: Rugby league safer than ever due to protocols
Burrow’s former team-mate and close friend Kevin Sinfield says rugby league’s evolving protocols have made the sport “safer than ever” despite ongoing concerns over the long-term impact of head collisions.
Sinfield’s comments came hours before a group of over 75 former players were set to launch a legal claim against the Rugby Football League (RFL), alleging negligence in failing to take “reasonable action” to protect against irreversible neurological conditions.
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The former Leeds Rhinos star is due to embark on his latest challenge to raise money for research into motor neurone disease and will run seven consecutive ultra-marathons, starting in Edinburgh and ending at the Rugby League World Cup final in Manchester.
He told BBC Radio Four’s Desert Island Discs: “I think with the advances medically in sport and how they’re governed, players are looked after better than they have ever been.
“Governing bodies have worked really hard to take away as many head collisions as they can, and then how these head collisions are monitored and looked after, the protocols that are in place now are better.
“I’d say it’s safer now than it’s ever been to play sport.
“However, there will continue to be head collisions. If we took all contact away from rugby and it became something very different to what it looks like today, we’d have a lot of people stop playing.”
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In episode four of Aquaphobia we hear travel around the country to get the experiences of different water sports and hear from a double Olympic water polo champion in the United States
Which team will lift the Paul Barriere Trophy at Old Trafford on November 19?
We profile the 16 teams taking part in the men’s tournament as the Rugby League World Cup returns to England this year…
Group A
England
Head coach: Shaun Wane.
Captain: Sam Tomkins.
Sam Tomkins is hoping to skipper England to World Cup glory
Previous World Cup best: Runners-up x3 (1975, 1995, 2017).
Player to watch:Victor Radley. If you have any interest in the NRL, you will have seen what the Sydney Roosters star can do. After making a shock decision to represent the birthplace of his Sheffield-born dad and give up his chance to play State of Origin in Australia, Radley will be out to prove that he made the right call. His hard-hitting will only elevate this forward-heavy England side, so expect crunching tackles, hard running and some pretty big fireworks.
What to expect: A side brimming with potential are aiming to go one step further than their 2017 World Cup Final loss against Australia, but they have some big challenges on their way. A clash with a talent-laden Samoa side awaits them at the World Cup opener, but unknown entities on the international stage such as Jack Welsby, Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young will be hoping to be the surprise package which see England defy all expectations. The quarter-finals should be a given but the journey after that is unknown.
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France
Head coach: Laurent Frayssinous.
Captain: Benjamin Garcia.
Catalans’ Benjamin Garcia captains France
Previous World Cup best: Runners-up x2 (1954, 1968).
Player to watch:Arthur Mourgue. One of the emerging talents of French rugby league and capable of slotting in at full-back or the halves, Mourgue has caught the eye for Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Super League and now has the opportunity to make a name for himself on the world stage.
What to expect: Given they are in a group with hosts England, who beat them 30-10 last October, and a star-studded Samoa team, it will be a tough ask for the French to reach the knock-out stages. Nevertheless, this is a side with plenty of Super League experience and should prove competitive, whoever they are up against.
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Samoa
Head coach: Matt Parish.
Captain: Anthony Milford.
Jarome Luai is one of eight players to have featured in this year’s NRL Grand Final in Samoa’s squad
Previous World Cup best: Quarter-finals x3 (2000, 2013, 2017).
Player to watch: Jarome Luai. The Penrith Panthers half-back has been lighting up the NRL and comes into the side after helping his club secure back-to-back Grand Final victories. The 25-year-old has talked a lot about the honour of representing his family heritage and his creativity, speed and personality will bring some high drama as this side aims to climb up the international rankings.
What to expect: This star-studded Samoa side is packed with speed, size and talent, not to mention eight NRL Grand Finalists who know how to win. Although they have never got further than the quarter-finals in previous World Cups, you would not be betting against this side to be in the final come November 19.
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Greece
Head coach: Steve Georgallis.
Captain: Jordan Meads.
Greece are playing in their first Rugby League World Cup
Previous World Cup best: First time qualified.
Player to watch:Stefanos Bastas. The first native Greek rugby league player to secure a professional contract will be familiar to watchers of Betfred League One, having previously played for Hemel Stags, Doncaster and Coventry Bears, and the prop can be expected to lead from the front for his team.
What to expect: Just qualifying for RLWC2021 has been an achievement for this team, given some of the obstacles they have had to overcome, but while Greece are unlikely to progress beyond the group stage, it can only be good for the growth of rugby league in the country to have them participating on the world stage.
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Group B
Australia
Head coach: Mal Meninga.
Captain: James Tedesco.
Josh Addo-Carr will be a danger on the wing for Australia
Previous World Cup best: Winners x11 (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017).
Player to watch:Josh Addo-Carr. AKA ‘The Foxx’, the Melbourne Storm winger is regarded one of the fastest rugby league players in the world, with that speed being aligned with skill and vision which has made him a master of scoring spectacular tries in the NRL. One of a number in the Kangaroos squad who could light up this tournament.
What to expect: The 11-time winners head to England as the reigning champions and favourites to keep hold of the Paul Barriere Trophy. Having not played a Test match since 2019, though, Australia’s squad is a somewhat inexperienced one on the international stage and head coach Mal Meninga has included 13 uncapped players in his squad.
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Fiji
Head coach: Joe Rabele.
Captain: Kevin Naiqama.
Kevin Naiqama leads Fiji at this year’s World Cup
Previous World Cup best: Semi-finals x3 (2008, 2013, 2017).
Player to watch: Viliame Kikau. The second row is renowned for his offloading game and it is something he will be troubling teams with, as he did for Penrith Panthers in the NRL. Kikau has represented Fiji on 12 occasions and knows how to cross the whitewash, scoring eight tries for his country. He is strong, powerful and his attacking mindset is something to look out for on the left edge as Group B gets under way.
What to expect: Fiji put in a brilliant performance in 2017 as they were beaten by eventual winners Australia in the semi-finals and with the Kangaroos in their group for this year’s tournament, they will be looking to rewrite the script. They are expected to make it to the quarter-final stages and then after that, this passionate side will have the belief they can go all the way.
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Scotland
Head coach: Nathan Graham.
Captain: Dale Ferguson.
Ryan Brierley is one of the stand-out names in Scotland’s squad
Previous World Cup best: Quarter-finals (2013).
Player to watch:Ryan Brierley. A veteran of Scotland’s 2016 Four Nations and 2017 World Cup campaigns, the Salford Red Devils full-back goes into this year’s tournament on the back of a strong season in the Betfred Super League and could provide the Bravehearts with the sort of maverick spark that Danny Brough used to.
What to expect: Drawn in the same group as defending champions Australia and semi-finalists in the past three tournaments Fiji, it will be difficult for Scotland to progress to the knock-out stages. However, they have proven themselves capable of giving the big boys a bloody nose before and will be optimistic of doing so again.
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Italy
Head coach: Leo Epifania.
Captain: Brendan Santi.
Nathan Brown is likely to be a key player for Italy
Previous World Cup best: Group stage x2 (2013, 2017).
Player to watch: Nathan Brown. The Parramatta Eels forward remains the Azzuri’s stand-out player for this year and is by far the most experienced member of this side in transition. After losing some NRL stars to the Australia national side, Italy will be relying on his experience to help them defy the odds.
What to expect: Italy have been placed in a difficult group for this year’s World Cup and they will have to put in the performance of their lives if they were to exit from the group stages. Fiji and Australia will be tough to beat and the clash with Scotland is set to be a grudge match.
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Group C
New Zealand
Head coach: Michael Maguire.
Captain: Kieran Foran.
Brandon Smith is one of the stars of the New Zealand team
Previous World Cup best: Winners (2008).
Player to watch: Brandon Smith. When looking for talent in this New Zealand side there is plenty, but it is hard to look past Smith. The now-Sydney Roosters hooker has been at the top of world rugby for many years and will be guiding the Kiwis around the pitch with ease, and will use his experience to control the game.
What to expect: They are the No 1 side in the world for a reason and it is pretty much nailed on that New Zealand will top the group, with the talent in this squad having the potential to be eventual winners. With six NRL Grand Finalists plus a whole host of other talents, including Joseph Tapine, Dylan Brown and Joey Manu, this side should be an absolute joy to watch as they show off some serious skill – with a potential semi-final clash with Australia on the cards.
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Lebanon
Head coach: Michael Cheika.
Captain: TBC.
Michael Cheika brings his international rugby union experience as coach of Lebanon
Previous World Cup best: Quarter-finals (2017).
Player to watch:Mitchell Moses. One of a number of NRL stars with Lebanese ancestry, the nephew of former Australia international hooker Benny Elias heads into the World Cup having helped Parramatta Eels reach the Grand Final and will be pulling the strings for the Cedars in the halves at this tournament.
What to expect: In a group where it seems as if the race to join expected qualifiers New Zealand in the knock-out stages is very much up for grabs, the Cedars will fancy their chances of repeating their last-eight appearance from five years ago. Head coach Michael Cheika brings a wealth of international experience from rugby union as well.
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Jamaica
Head coach: Romeo Monteith.
Captain: Joe Brown.
Ashton Golding is one of the star names in the Jamaica squad
Previous World Cup best: First time qualified.
Player to watch: Ashton Golding. It is Super League stars who lead the way in this Jamaica side and none more so than Huddersfield Giants’ Golding, who has represented the Reggae Warriors on four occasions and is one of their most potent attacking threats, which they will be looking to use to their advantage in a tough group.
What to expect: As the first Caribbean nation to qualify for the World Cup, it is a momentous occasion for Jamaica regardless of outcome as they look to inspire the next generation. Clashes with New Zealand, Lebanon and Ireland await them in the group stages, and anything is possible.
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Ireland
Head coach: Ged Corcoran.
Captain: George King.
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Previous World Cup best: Quarter-finals (2000).
Player to watch:Luke Keary. Previously capped twice by Australia, the Sydney Roosters half-back has opted to represent his grandfather’s home nation at this year’s World Cup and should inject some dynamism into the team, which is further boosted by the inclusion of Super League stars like Richie Myler, Toby King and James Bentley.
What to expect: Every team in Group C will fancy their chances of reaching the knock-out stages and with a squad that includes some notable Super League and NRL talent, Ireland will be as confident of anyone of repeating their quarter-final appearance from their World Cup debut 22 years ago, which remains their best performance at rugby league’s global gathering.
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Group D
Tonga
Head coach: Kristian Woolf.
Joint-captains: Jason Taumalolo and Sio Taukeiaho
Jason Taumalolo has been one of the players leading Tonga’s rugby league revolution
Previous World Cup best: Semi-finals (2017).
Player to watch:David Fifita. The Gold Coast Titans star has chosen to represent his father’s Tongan heritage at this year’s World Cup after previously representing Australia in the World Cup Nines three years ago. Fifita is a powerful addition to Tonga’s second row and will cause problems for any opponent as his team seek to make more history at this year’s tournament.
What to expect: The Tongans came within an Elliot Whitehead tackle of upsetting England in the semi-finals five years ago and a victory over Australia in 2019 served only to heighten expectations around the team. A squad packed with Super League and NRL talent and coached by the man who guided St Helens to victory in the past three Grand Finals is expected to excel in this tournament.
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Papua New Guinea
Head coach: Stanley Tepend.
Captain: Rhyse Martin.
Papua New Guinea skipper Rhyse Martin
Previous World Cup best: Quarter-finals (2000, 2017).
Player to watch: Rhyse Martin. The Leeds Rhinos star ended the season in fine form in Super League and he will be wanting to emulate that on the international stage as he leads his country. Martin is strong, dynamic and a constant threat in attack as he uses his power and speed down the edge to dominate sides. His accuracy with the boot will also be an advantage to this Papua New Guinea side after he kicked a record-breaking 38 goals in a row for the Rhinos.
What to expect: Papua New Guinea could be one of the real surprises of this year’s tournament and as the fifth-ranked side in the world, they will be looking to provide some upsets. They bagged a huge win over Fiji earlier this year and have a combination of NRL experience together with young talents such as Lachlan Lam and, if they progress, it could see them set up a huge quarter-final clash with either Samoa or England.
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Wales
Head coach: John Kear.
Captain: Elliot Kear.
Wales will be hoping Rhys Williams can be a try-scoring outlet again
Previous World Cup best: Semi-finals x2 (1995, 2000).
Player to watch:Rhys Williams. The absence of rugby union-bound Regan Grace due to injury has robbed Wales of one of its most potent attacking threats, but fellow winger Williams has proven a prolific try scorer both in Super League and for the Dragons since making his debut for them in 2008. He brings plenty of experience to the party as well.
What to expect: Realistically, getting out of the group which includes the Pacific Island powerhouses of Tonga and Papua New Guinea would be an achievement for Wales. But head coach John Kear has proven capable of masterminding cup upsets at club level, and has assembled a team which will fight for each other and their country to the last.
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Cook Islands
Head coach: Tony Iro.
Captain: TBC.
Leeds forward Zane Tetevano will be leading the charge for the Cook Islands
Previous World Cup best: Group Stage (2000, 2013).
Player to watch: Zane Tetevano. If he gets it right, Leeds Rhinos middle Tetevano, combined with Catalans Dragons’ Dylan Napa, will be a force in the front row for this Cook Islands side. Both will be coming out all guns blazing and looking to lead from the front as their strong pack lays the groundwork.
What to expect: The Cook Islands is a proud rugby league nation and will be looking to do everything they can to get out of the group stages. A clash with Wales will be one they aim to win, but they have two tough asks in beating both Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
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Michael van Gerwen stays on course for his sixth World Grand Prix title after reaching his seventh final with a tirade of tungsten bashing to dismantle old foe Peter Wright, as Nathan Aspinall dethroned Gerwyn Price from his position as world No 1 to reach Sunday’s final in Leicester
Last Updated: 09/10/22 12:26am
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Watch the top checkouts from semi-finals night at the World Grand Prix in Leicester as Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen reached the final
Watch the top checkouts from semi-finals night at the World Grand Prix in Leicester as Nathan Aspinall and Michael van Gerwen reached the final
Michael van Gerwen put an end to his war of words with Peter Wright by demolishing his old adversary to set up a showdown with surprise-finalist Nathan Aspinall at the World Grand Prix.
Van Gerwen stormed into the final with a ruthless straight-sets rout of ‘Snakebite’ Wright, dropping just one leg in a one-sided contest.
Aspinall, meanwhile, battled past 2020 champion Gerwyn Price to earn his first appearance in the World Grand Prix final.
Saturday, October 8 – Results
Semi-Finals
Nathan Aspinall
4-2
Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright
0-4
Michael van Gerwen
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MVG thrashed Wright in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix, winning 4-0 and only dropping one leg!
MVG thrashed Wright in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix, winning 4-0 and only dropping one leg!
Wright endured a nightmare from the off as Van Gerwen took out 167 in the game’s opening leg and stamped his dominance on the tie by winning the first set without the world champion having a dart at a finishing double.
He also finished 94 and 98 to take command in set two, before punishing misses from Wright to double his lead in the tie.
Checkouts of 67 and 54 saw ‘Mighty Mike’ extend his winning streak to eight legs before Wright finally got off the mark by taking out 73 to pull back to 2-1 in the third set.
The Scot, though, paid for missing his chance to level the set as Van Gerwen closed out the set to close in on another appearance in the final.
He then finished 124 to open the fourth set, double 16 to move 2-0 up and punished further misses from Wright to seal victory on tops.
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Wright showed Van Gerwen respect after the Dutchman hit a monstrous 167 finish on the bullseye in the first leg of their clash
Wright showed Van Gerwen respect after the Dutchman hit a monstrous 167 finish on the bullseye in the first leg of their clash
“With my performance in the last few days I expected to win, but you still have to do it against a guy like Peter Wright,” said Van Gerwen, who has also seen off Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey in Leicester this week.
“He didn’t look well and I don’t know what happened there, but you need to take advantage of that.
“He’s a phenomenal player but he didn’t turn up tonight and I did the right things for myself at the right moment. Early doors I played well and that gave me confidence.”
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Michael van Gerwen on Wright thrashing: ‘For a mediocre player, I’m not doing too bad!’
Michael van Gerwen on Wright thrashing: ‘For a mediocre player, I’m not doing too bad!’
Van Gerwen has won the Premier League and World Matchplay this year, and has recovered from his own wrist surgery to return to top form and silence his doubters.
“I don’t have to justify myself,” he added. “Everyone knows what I’m capable of, and when Michael is there they’re all scared.
“I have to win my games and I hope I can keep performing like this tomorrow as well.
“In winning the Premier League I didn’t play my A-game, and I didn’t really play my A-game in the World Matchplay but I still won it. Now I think I’ve played some decent darts and I’m really happy for myself.”
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Aspinall ended world No 1 Price’s bid to reach a third successive World Grand Prix final in the first semi-final.
‘The Asp’ started the brighter and landed a 14-darter and a 113 finish as he claimed the opening set 3-1, but Price responded with 121 for a 12-darter on his way to the second set.
However, Aspinall fired in a 13-dart leg as he moved ahead again in the match, before two missed darts at double 16 from Price allowed the Stockport thrower in to land double five as he moved 3-1 up in the tie.
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Price flexed his muscles with two massive back-to-back finishes including a 127 checkout on the bull, but despite his big finishes, it was Aspinall who eventually dumped him out
Price flexed his muscles with two massive back-to-back finishes including a 127 checkout on the bull, but despite his big finishes, it was Aspinall who eventually dumped him out
Aspinall then moved to the brink of victory in set five, leading 2-1 before Price levelled, and when the former UK Open and US Darts Masters champion missed a match dart at double 16, the 2020 winner pounced with a 117 checkout to snatch the set and keep his hopes alive.
Price then took out 107 and 127 in successive legs to come from behind to lead in the sixth leg, but missed doubles allowed Aspinall in to level before a 13-darter saw him clinically close out the win.
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Nathan Aspinall said reaching the World Grand Prix final ‘means so much’ following his recovery from a serious wrist injury
Nathan Aspinall said reaching the World Grand Prix final ‘means so much’ following his recovery from a serious wrist injury
“To be in the World Grand Prix final, I’m absolutely on cloud nine,” said Aspinall, who landed a clinical 56 per cent of his finishing doubles in the tie.
“It means so much. I’ve put so much work in since my injury and worked so hard. Finally, I’m back in the final of a major and I’m buzzing.
“I think I should have won the game 4-1 but it wasn’t to be – nerves took their toll on me and Gezzy, when he needed to, took some amazing shots out.
“I thought he was going to kick on and his double tops were going to start going, but it just didn’t happen; I have no idea why and I’m thankful that I won.”
Nathan will have to sharpen up, but has he got the game? Yes! He knows that he’s the underdog and he’s been the underdog the whole event but he’s got the belief. He knows what it takes and he knows he’ll probably have to play better tomorrow than he did tonight. The chances he’ll get tomorrow won’t be as many, but all he can do is come up here and try his best. Can he win it? Yes, he can! But he’ll probably have to do what Robert Thornton did in 2015 and that is hit tops in a relentless way and probably have that little bit of luck with Michael van Gerwen missing. I think that’s what probably needs to happen.
Wayne Mardle on Van Gerwen vs Aspinall
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Van Gerwen will be firm favourite going into Sunday’s final, with Aspinall the outsider to claim the £120,000 top prize and lift the new World Grand Prix trophy at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
You can watch the World Grand Prix final on Sky Sports Arena and Main Event on Sunday, October 9 from 7.30pm.
RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer, who is leaving his role at the end of the year, was investigated after a complaint was made over comments he made about the Fiji national team at the Championship and League One awards dinner on September 26
Last Updated: 07/10/22 6:32pm
Ralph Rimmer was investigated for comments made at a recent awards dinner
RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer has avoided any sanctions for using “unacceptable” language at an official function.
The governing body launched an investigation into Rimmer’s actions after receiving a complaint over comments he made about the Fiji national team at the Championship and League One awards dinner on September 26.
The RFL says it followed procedures under the Directors’ Code of Conduct, led by the RFL chair Simon Johnson, who submitted a 21-page report to the RFL Board and to Rimmer, who announced last month his intention to step down from his role at the end of the year.
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It said the procedures involved gathering of information from three independent experts, in addition to a number of attendees at the dinner, and a statement from Rimmer – who apologised for his comments.
Views from the Fiji Rugby League and their World Cup travelling party were also sought.
“The report concluded that the language fell within the wide definition of unacceptable language as defined in the RFL’s Operational Rules and therefore could be considered to breach the Code of Conduct,” A statement from the governing body said.
“However, it noted that the comment was taken within the context of a wider discussion of the World Cup; that any insult of the Fiji national team or of people from Fiji or of Fijian origin or heritage was unintended; and that the Fiji national team, the Federation and the Confederation have accepted Ralph Rimmer’s apology for the comments.
“Noting the agreement of all consulted that there was no intent in the use of the unacceptable language; that a fulsome apology was issued and accepted; and taking into account relevant and applicable precedent, from other sports and previous RFL compliance investigations, the decision of the chair is that no formal disciplinary action is appropriate.
“The matter will be dealt with through education, to be conducted during the three months before Ralph Rimmer’s previously-announced departure from the RFL at the end of the year.”
The statement was issued two hours before Fiji were due to play England in a Rugby League World Cup warm-up game at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium.
Maggie Alphonsi believes England are the team to beat as they aim for World Cup glory; the tournament gets under way on Saturday in New Zealand as South Africa face France, England come up against Fiji and Australia and New Zealand clash
By Megan Wellens
Last Updated: 03/10/22 5:13pm
England hope to be celebrating World Cup success in New Zealand next month
When it comes to Rugby World Cup glory, no one knows the highs and lows as well as Maggie Alphonsi, and for the England legend there is only one team to beat this year: the Red Roses.
As a leader in the team that ended a 20-year drought and won the 2014 Rugby World Cup, Alphonsi knows the euphoria of claiming the biggest prize and believes the current Red Roses side have the capabilities to go all the way.
However, with England considered as firm favourites heading into the tournament – a record 25-match unbeaten run and No 1 world ranking cementing them as the ones to beat – many teams will be out to show they are the ones who can topple this side.
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“They are very much expected to win,” said Alphonsi.
“The odds are in their favour, they are number one in the world, they are the reigning Six Nations champions, they are full of confidence and have the resources, the investments and the players.
“I just think these players are prepared for it and many will be saying if they don’t win it would be a failure.”
‘They don’t know how to lose’
The World Cup will certainly present some challenging clashes for the Red Roses and they will be pushed to their limit as sides look to put them in a situation they do not encounter very often: A match in which they are losing.
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England Women head coach Simon Middleton says despite his side’s No 1 ranking and record unbeaten run they cannot guarantee victory at the World Cup
England Women head coach Simon Middleton says despite his side’s No 1 ranking and record unbeaten run they cannot guarantee victory at the World Cup
Some see this as the best way to get under England’s skin, but Alphonsi believes they are well prepared for all scenarios, even ones they do not often have to face.
“They have a ‘we don’t know how to lose’ mindset because to go that many games unbeaten, they will naturally have that,” she added.
“Some will see that as a negative because they have not lost or been tested it is hard to know what to do when put in that scenario.
“But knowing (coach) Simon Middleton and the quality of players, they will have covered all bases, including those scenarios and how to deal with it.
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“They were tested a few times in the Six Nations, especially first half against Wales in the set-piece.
“However, you can’t count out New Zealand, Canada and France because they are also feeling like it is their time.
“I think England will get to the final – crazy to say they won’t.
“If New Zealand get to the final as a home nation it would be great for the crowd and interest.
“But I am also excited by the fact that an outsider could do it, like France who always finish third.
“They might do something completely different, who knows. There are some dark horses.”
A record-breaking Rugby World Cup
Women’s sport is in a constant state of growth as more coverage and visibility drives its viewership and this year’s World Cup is expected to continue to boost those numbers.
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England captain Sarah Hunter says tournament experience could be a big factor going into the World Cup
England captain Sarah Hunter says tournament experience could be a big factor going into the World Cup
With record attendances and media interest, Alphonsi thinks, if they can claim World Cup victory, we could see the Red Roses reach the heights of the Lionesses in this summer’s Euros when the tournament takes place in England in 2025.
She said: “My expectations are incredibly high.
Maggie Alphonsi believes an England vs New Zealand World Cup final on November 12 would be brilliant for rugby as it rides a wave of momentum
“This World Cup will break many records. There are over 30,000 tickets sold for the opening game so for that many people to come and watch in New Zealand is huge, that in itself Is amazing.
“It will be the most-covered World Cup in terms of television, print and radio and I think it is going to be a tournament that will captivate the world.
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“It will add to the momentum of women’s sport especially over here and we get to put women’s sport back in the spotlight. We saw that in the summer with the Lionesses and that still blows my mind.
“The FA and the Lionesses set the bar high with an amazing tournament across the country and the amount of people that attended was brilliant.
“In 2010 we got to the final and we had a crowd of just under 14,000 which was significant back then.
“2025 is not that far away and women’s sport is on the crest of a wave and hopefully we can emulate what women’s football has done, making sure we can take it around the country and put out a statement.
“Then we can see the final at Twickenham with a sell-out capacity and good build-up.”
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Nathan Aspinall secured a shock win over Michael Smith; Martin Lukeman came through with a surprise upset against James Wade; Gerwyn Price secured a dominant victory as Joe Cullen overcame Damon Heta in a tight contest
Last Updated: 05/10/22 12:47am
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Check out the best action from Day 2 of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Check out the best action from Day 2 of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Michael Smith suffered a shock first-round exit at the hands of Nathan Aspinall in a night full of upsets at the World Grand Prix in Leicester.
The Stockport man came away with a 2-1 win over Smith as the world No 4 struggled to find his rhythm on the doubles.
Martin Lukeman provided the performance of the night in a shock victory over James Wade, while Gerwyn Price put in a professional performance against Martin Schindler and Joe Cullen overcame Damon Heta.
The final match of the evening was touted as a big encounter and it did not disappoint as Smith and Aspinall faced off in a fast-paced clash.
Aspinall started the encounter with much more promise, breaking Smith early with a 116 finish to go two legs ahead.
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Nathan Aspinall started his match against Michael Smith with a 116 checkout in the first round of the World Grand Prix
Nathan Aspinall started his match against Michael Smith with a 116 checkout in the first round of the World Grand Prix
‘Bully Boy’ fought back to claim a leg of his own but it was not enough as the world No 16 took advantage of some inaccuracy on the doubles to claim the first set.
The second set continued in the same vein as the first as Aspinall raced into a two-leg lead but Smith was not ready to go down without a fight and checked out on 95 to keep himself in the tie before backing it up with a 101 finish to bring the set level.
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Smith took out this finish to level the second set against Aspinall
Smith took out this finish to level the second set against Aspinall
A crucial leg followed and a lovely 171 put Aspinall close to victory with three match darts, but he failed to take his chance and Smith checked out on D10 to bring it to a set apiece.
A nervous third set ensued but Aspinall managed to find his form to secure a 3-0 whitewash, checking out on D16 to take the match.
Tuesday, October 4 – Results
First Round
Madars Razma
2-1
Ryan Searle
Ross Smith
2-1
Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert
2-0
Gabriel Clemens
Joe Cullen
2-1
Damon Heta
(8) Rob Cross
1-2
Daryl Gurney
(5) James Wade
1-2
Martin Lukeman
(1) Gerwyn Price
2-0
Martin Schindler
(4) Michael Smith
1-2
Nathan Aspinall
Price cut an ultra-confident figure as he stepped out for his clash with Schindler and he got off to a flying start, breaking the throw in the first leg and holding his own to power ahead.
With both players unable to find the doubles to checkout, Schindler battled his way back with a D5 in the third leg of the set but it was to no avail as ‘The Iceman’ discovered his accuracy once again to take out D2 for the first set.
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Gerwyn Price enjoyed this 101 finish on his way to victory over Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price enjoyed this 101 finish on his way to victory over Martin Schindler
The Welshman’s dominance continued into the second set as Schindler was unable to get comfortable, a sublime 101 finish to break the throw spurring him on to victory and into the second round.
Lukeman came through with the biggest upset of the night against Wade, taking the first set in three straight legs and stunning the world No 5 to secure his first televised victory.
Lukeman, who sits outside the world top 50, was easily finding some big maximums while Wade struggled to get going on the doubles, Wade at one point needing seven darts to get his leg going on the doubles.
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Martin Lukeman caused a huge upset, beating James Wade in the first round
Martin Lukeman caused a huge upset, beating James Wade in the first round
The second set produced a partial fightback from Wade as he brought his average back up, a crucial D2 keeping him in the tie but the third leg saw Lukeman battle well and hold his throw with a D10 to take the lead.
Out of nowhere, Wade found a vital 121 finish to bring it to a deciding leg but it was Lukeman who ended with three match darts and used them well, hitting the D8 to secure the biggest win of his career so far.
It was touted to be a tight and exciting match-up and Cullen and Heta did not disappoint in their opening set, trading breaks of throw and ton-plus finishes before a D16 saw Cullen take the opener.
Heta take complete control in the second set, breaking Cullen twice, including a brilliant 115 finish, to take a 3-0 whitewash and bring the tie all square but Cullen took the final set and the match on D8 to conclude a gritty and enthralling match.
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Joe Cullen struck an early break in his first-round match against Damon Heta
Joe Cullen struck an early break in his first-round match against Damon Heta
The tight contests continued as former world champion Rob Cross and former World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney faced off, both players holding their throw before Cross’ inability to find the crucial double to start, missing nine times, gifted Gurney a chance to break and take the first set.
After Cross fought back in the second set, hitting two maximums and breaking Gurney to make things even, ‘Superchin’ held it together and broke Cross early in the final leg to take the big win.
Last year’s semi-finalist Danny Noppert was back to show his form on the doubles again as he took on Gabriel Clemens. An astonishing second leg saw the Dutchman take 13 darts to get going on the double but he rallied to leave himself on a ton-plus finish of 101 to seal the leg before going on to take the set.
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Danny Noppert missed 12 darts at double to get started in the second leg of his game against Gabriel Clemens but still managed to win the leg after a remarkable turnaround
Danny Noppert missed 12 darts at double to get started in the second leg of his game against Gabriel Clemens but still managed to win the leg after a remarkable turnaround
Clemens fought back for a couple of legs but Noppert raised his game and grinded out a 2-0 win as he looks to go one step further than 2021.
With three debutants on show as the opening round came to a close, there were some upsets to be had and Madars Razma had a strong showing as he won 2-1 against Ryan Searle, taking the first set after breaking the throw twice before taking out a lovely 108 finish to win the match and progress to the second round.
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Andrew Gilding hit this 102 checkout on his way to winning the first set of his first-round match against Ross Smith
Andrew Gilding hit this 102 checkout on his way to winning the first set of his first-round match against Ross Smith
An all-British tie between Ross Smith and Andrew Gilding saw Smith come away with the spoils in a closely-fought 2-1 victory.
Wednesday, October 5- Fixtures (1900 BST)
Second Round
Adrian Lewis
vs
Chris Dobey
Peter Wright
vs
Krzyztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen
vs
Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton
vs
Dimitri Van den Burgh
Wednesday sees the players from night one back in action as Adrian Lewis faces Chris Dobey, Peter Wright is up against Krzysztof Ratajski, Michael van Gerwen plays Stephen Bunting and Jonny Clayton faces off against Dimitri Van den Bergh as the second round gets under way.
Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 5, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double in, Double out’ set format on Sky Sports all the way through to the final on October 9 in Leicester.
Five-time winner Michael Van Gerwen beat rival Gary Anderson, while defending champion Jonny Clayton scraped into the second round by coming from a set down to defeat 2020 finalist Dirk Van Duijvenbode; Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis also won through at the World Grand Prix
Last Updated: 04/10/22 1:49am
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Watch the best checkouts from a thrilling opening night of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Watch the best checkouts from a thrilling opening night of the World Grand Prix in Leicester
Michael van Gerwen won the battle between two darting giants as he set aside a nervy start to ease past Gary Anderson on opening night of the World Grand Prix.
Van Gerwen – chasing a sixth World Grand Prix success – ran out a resounding 2-0 winner against two-time World Champion Anderson in a repeat of the 2016 final.
Jonny Clayton survived a scare as he began his title defence with a comeback victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis also progressed in Leicester.
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Check out the best of the action from the opening night of the World Grand Prix
Check out the best of the action from the opening night of the World Grand Prix
Monday, October 3 – Results
First Round
Callan Rydz
0-2
Krzysztof Ratajski
Brendan Dolan
0-2
Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey
2-0
Luke Humphries
Dimitri Van den Bergh
2-1
Dave Chisnall
Jonny Clayton
2-1
Dirk van Duijvenbode
Peter Wright
2-0
Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen
2-0
Gary Anderson
Jose de Sousa
0-2
Adrian Lewis
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Anderson could help but smile after he scored just nine in his emphatic defeat to Van Gerwen
Anderson could help but smile after he scored just nine in his emphatic defeat to Van Gerwen
Van Gerwen reeled off a scrappy first set without reply, despite Anderson missing darts to win every leg – squandering 11 darts at double in total.
The Scot responded with a clinical 84 to seize control of the second set, but after firing back with a 15-dart riposte, ‘The Green Machine’ followed up his third 180 with a 106 finish to seal victory in 12 darts.
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Van Gerwen booked his spot in the second round spot with this incredible 12-dart leg…
Van Gerwen booked his spot in the second round spot with this incredible 12-dart leg…
“The first round at the World Grand Prix against Gary Anderson is never going to be easy,” admitted Van Gerwen, who averaged 101 in a superb second set display.
“You never know with Gary. He still has a lot of talent and is a brilliant player, so you have to perform well.
“We both missed so many doubles in the first set, but the second set is something to build on for the next round.”
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MVG is targeting more success having already claimed victory in this year’s Premier League and World Matchplay
MVG is targeting more success having already claimed victory in this year’s Premier League and World Matchplay
Clayton was handed a tough assignment against 2020 runner-up Van Duijvenbode in the unique double-start event, but recovered from a shaky start to book a showdown with Dimitri Van den Bergh at the Morningside Arena.
Van Duijvenbode dominated the opening exchanges, punishing a lacklustre start from the reigning champion to draw first blood with a sublime 156 checkout.
Clayton’s terrific 130 finish midway through set two shifted the pendulum, and as an increasingly frustrated Dutchman faltered late on with ‘The Ferret’ capitalising to move through to a meeting against Van den Bergh.
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Jonny Clayton admitted he was fortunate to progress through after a late rally saw him defeat Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jonny Clayton admitted he was fortunate to progress through after a late rally saw him defeat Dirk van Duijvenbode
“I’m glad to get through obviously, but Dirk should have won that game,” conceded Clayton, who crushed fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in last year’s showpiece.
“I just couldn’t get going tonight, but thankfully I managed to scrape through.
“Dimitri is a brilliant player, just like Dirk. Hopefully my game will improve on Wednesday. I’m going to come out of the blocks better than I did tonight.”
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Van den Bergh nailed this brilliant 81 checkout on the bullseye in his win over Dave Chisnall
Van den Bergh nailed this brilliant 81 checkout on the bullseye in his win over Dave Chisnall
Van den Bergh secured only his second victory on the World Grand Prix stage with a deciding-leg win over two-time finalist Dave Chisnall.
World Champion Peter Wright defied a spirited fightback from Kim Huybrechts to begin his bid for a maiden World Grand Prix crown with a 2-0 win in a high-quality affair.
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Adrian Lewis rolled back the years by hitting the Jackpot with this majestic 152 finish
Adrian Lewis rolled back the years by hitting the Jackpot with this majestic 152 finish
And 2010 finalist Adrian Lewis made a winning return in his first World Grand Prix appearance since 2019, converting three ton-plus checkouts to close out an impressive 2-0 win over Jose De Sousa, who becomes the first seed to exit this year’s tournament.
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Chris Dobey sunk two huge ton-plus checkouts as he swept past Luke Humphries
Chris Dobey sunk two huge ton-plus checkouts as he swept past Luke Humphries
‘Jackpot’ will now play ‘Hollywood’ Chris Dobey, who produced a spectacular display of finishing to stun Luke Humphries and secure his first win at this event since reaching the 2019 semi-finals on debut.
Krzysztof Ratajski and Stephen Bunting also progressed with 2-0 victories, beating Callan Rydz and Brendan Dolan respectively.
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Dobey won the opening set with Luke Humphries with this Hollywood ending
Dobey won the opening set with Luke Humphries with this Hollywood ending
Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 4, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
Tuesday, October 4 – Fixtures (1900 BST)
First Round
Madars Razma
vs
Ryan Searle
Ross Smith
vs
Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert
vs
Gabriel Clemens
Joe Cullen
vs
Damon Heta
Rob Cross
vs
Daryl Gurney
James Wade
vs
Martin Lukeman
Gerwyn Price
vs
Martin Schindler
Michael Smith
vs
Nathan Aspinall
The first round action draws to a close on Tuesday night, as world No 1 Gerwyn Price begins his bid for a second World Grand Prix crown against German debutant Martin Schindler.
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Two-time winner James Wade faces another newcomer in Martin Lukeman, 2017 champion Daryl Gurney plays eighth seed Rob Cross, while Michael Smith takes on Nathan Aspinall in another tasty tie.
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double in, Double out’ set format on Sky Sports all the way through to the final on October 9 in Leicester.
Emma Paton returns ahead of the World Grand Prix Darts to make her predictions for the iconic double-in, double-out tournament; who is she picking to win this year’s event in Leicester? And will Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson be her must-watch first-round tie?
Last Updated: 02/10/22 3:31pm
It’s prediction time for Emma Paton with the World Grand Prix on her mind
Our very own Emma Paton is back for her latest predictions ahead of this year’s World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
Find out who Emma is backing to win the unique event, which is best known for its double-in, double-out format.
The 25th staging of the prestigious tournament will feature seven sessions of action from October 3-9 – live on Sky Sports!
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Enjoy the best moments from the World Grand Prix, from the first nine-darter, Andy Callaby beating Phil Taylor and MVG’s first TV title win
Enjoy the best moments from the World Grand Prix, from the first nine-darter, Andy Callaby beating Phil Taylor and MVG’s first TV title win
Tournament favourite?
Well this isn’t a huge surprise, he is the bookies’ favourite too, but I’ve gone for…
…Gerwyn Price!
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Gerwyn Price hit two nine-dart finishes in one night in the Premier League in Belfast…
Gerwyn Price hit two nine-dart finishes in one night in the Premier League in Belfast…
‘The Iceman’ knows what it takes to win, he won this event two years ago, and then followed that up with a runner-up finish last year, ultimately losing out to fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton.
He’s coming into form nicely having, by his own admission, struggled with the schedule earlier on in the year. The world No 1 arrives in Leicester off the back of winning The World Series of Darts Finals, plus he missed last weekend’s event in Belgium so should be feeling fresh!
Compared to the other members of the ‘Big Three’ including Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen, I think his section of the draw is slightly more favourable.
He faces a debutant in Martin Schindler in the first round, and he knows what to expect there after their first-round tie in Blackpool!
A tricky last-16 tie looms with either Masters champion Joe Cullen or Australia’s No 1 Damon Heta but I expect him to get past either of those, with Rob Cross the highest seed in his quarter.
Michael Smith and James Wade are in his half – we all know how dangerous Wade can be in this event having won it twice, but in five of his last seven appearances he’s not made it past the opening round – so I’m backing Price to at least reach the final.
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Price raised the roof with a nine-darter during his semi-final against Danny Noppert at the World Matchplay
Price raised the roof with a nine-darter during his semi-final against Danny Noppert at the World Matchplay
One to watch?
…Danny Noppert!
Will Danny Noppert be the one to watch in Leicester?
Now this might sound counter-intuitive because he’s in the same half as Price!! But I think he can certainly make it out of his quarter.
He did just that last year, in the end losing to Clayton in the semis and he could find himself with a similar scenario this time around with a different Welshman ending his chances.
He looks more and more confident every time I see him on the stage and certainly since winning the UK Open earlier this year. He has such a calmness and steel about him, I’m a big fan of the way he goes about his business.
We don’t seem to talk him up too much ahead of majors, despite him picking one up this year! He’s still flying under the radar with the bookies too at 25/1 but ‘The Freeze’ is one to keep your eye on!
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Danny Noppert showcased some serious darthousery with a no-look 180 before taking out 86 on the bullseye at the World Matchplay
Danny Noppert showcased some serious darthousery with a no-look 180 before taking out 86 on the bullseye at the World Matchplay
Double-in, double-out…
…adds to the excitement!! Well it does for us anyway!
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Watch every nine-darter hit at the World Grand Prix…
Watch every nine-darter hit at the World Grand Prix…
For the players, the first round is a nerve shredder! The fact we start with best of three sets as well adds to the drama. There’s no room for a slow start, last year showed exactly that with the likes of Peter Wright and MVG falling at the first hurdle.
There’s drama of the other kind too – we’ve seen players in the past step up on the stage and forget it’s double-in and go straight for the treble 20!
The fact we only see this format once a year adds a sprinkling of something special, it’s unique, and a great leveller for the players.
Must-watch first-round tie?
…Jonny Clayton vs Dirk van Duijvenbode!
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Clayton struck with five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Clayton struck with five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Is there any other answer?!
To be fair there are some cracking opening ties but this is the standout for me.
They’ve met a couple of times recently – at the World Series Finals which went the Dutchman’s way, and then what a belter at the Belgian Darts Open over the weekend, both players averaged 105 but it was ‘The Ferret’ who came out on top then.
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Jonny Clayton triumphed at the World Grand Prix after thrashing Gerwyn Price 5-1
Jonny Clayton triumphed at the World Grand Prix after thrashing Gerwyn Price 5-1
Clayton is the defending champion of course and is coming into form. He finished the Premier League top of the table but has admitted defeat to Joe Cullen in the play-offs knocked his confidence which took some time to recover from but he’s certainly getting back to his best.
Van Duijvenbode might not have won this event, but he came close a couple of years ago getting to the final and he’s getting closer to winning something on the big stage.
Oh it should be good, shouldn’t it?
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Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 3, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
2022 World Grand Prix Schedule of Play Monday October 3 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches Callan Rydz vs Krzysztof Ratajski Brendan Dolan vs Stephen Bunting Chris Dobey vs Luke Humphries Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Dave Chisnall (7) Jonny Clayton vs Dirk van Duijvenbode (2) Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts (3) Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson (6) Jose de Sousa vs Adrian Lewis
Live World Grand Prix Darts
October 4, 2022, 7:00pm
Live on
Tuesday October 4 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches Madars Razma vs Ryan Searle Ross Smith vs Andrew Gilding Danny Noppert vs Gabriel Clemens Joe Cullen vs Damon Heta (8) Rob Cross vs Daryl Gurney (5) James Wade vs Martin Lukeman (1) Gerwyn Price vs Martin Schindler (4) Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double-in, Double-out’ set format on Sky Sports from October 3-9 in Leicester.
Jonny Clayton will be out to retain his World Grand Prix title at Leicester’s Morningside Arena from October 3-9; watch the unique double-start event live on Sky Sports Arena this week
Last Updated: 02/10/22 12:07pm
Jonny Clayton beat fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price to win his maiden World Grand Prix
Jonny Clayton will be bidding to retain his World Grand Prix title in the unique double-start event, while Peter Wright has vowed to raise his game to “another level”.
Clayton will begin the defence of his title defence against high-flying Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, while world champion Wright begins his bid for a maiden World Grand Prix crown against Kim Huybrechts.
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Clayton clinched his first televised ranking crown in last year’s showpiece with a 5-1 demolition of fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price.
The reigning champion will look to repeat those heroics in this year’s 32-player tournament, which takes place at Leicester’s Morningside Arena from October 3-9, with a record-breaking £600,000 prize fund on offer.
Clayton is hoping to follow in the footsteps of 11-time winner Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen – who is chasing a sixth crown this year – by becoming only the third player in World Grand Prix history to retain their title.
“The double-in double-out format is challenging, but it separates the men from the boys,” said Clayton.
“I’m going to turn up and play to the best level I can. If I play my best game, I’ve got a good chance of defending my title so that’s what I will try and do.
“There are not many people that have defended the World Grand Prix and I’d love to join that list, so fingers crossed it’s going to happen again.”
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Clayton sunk five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Gerwyn Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Clayton sunk five ton-plus finishes as he dominated Gerwyn Price to lift his maiden World Grand Prix title
Van Duijvenbode defeated Clayton at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam a fortnight ago, but ‘The Ferret’ gained revenge with a thrilling 6-4 victory at last weekend’s Belgian Darts Open.
Meanwhile, Wright will be featuring in his first televised ranking event since undergoing gallstones surgery in August, having returned to winning ways at last month’s International Darts Open in Jena.
“I was really happy with the win in Jena,” said ‘Snakebite’ Wright. “I won it quite easily, beating some top players on the way through, so after the surgery it’s all good.
“I feel confident about where my game is. I think I’m in the top four on the averages over the past few months, so if I can hit my double to start, I should be pretty dangerous.”
Peter Wright will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive first round exit at the World Grand Prix
Wright, a runner-up to Michael van Gerwen in 2018, will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive first round exit in the double-start event when he takes on Belgian star Kim Huybrechts.
The world No 2 is without a televised ranking title since scooping his second World Championship crown in January, and he is determined to add to his haul in Leicester.
“The World Grand Prix is definitely on my list,” insisted Wright. “I was practising for this tournament straight after the surgery. I said to myself that I’ve got to start on tops because it gives you the chance to get the highest start, so fingers crossed it works.
“Kim is playing well. He’s in a good place and he’s beaten me quite a few times recently, but this is double-start so it’s a different playing field. If I hit my doubles, I’ll win.”
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World No 1 Gerwyn Price takes on German debutant Martin Schindler in his opening round tie, while Michael van Gerwen begins his bid for a sixth World Grand Prix success against his old adversary Gary Anderson, in a repeat of the 2016 final.
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Dan Dawson and Colin Lloyd make their predictions ahead of the World Grand Prix in Leicester on the latest edition of Love The Darts
Dan Dawson and Colin Lloyd make their predictions ahead of the World Grand Prix in Leicester on the latest edition of Love The Darts
World Grand Prix Schedule of Play Monday October 3 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches (best of three sets) Callan Rydz vs Krzysztof Ratajski Brendan Dolan vs Stephen Bunting Chris Dobey vs Luke Humphries Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Dave Chisnall (7) Jonny Clayton vs Dirk van Duijvenbode (2) Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts (3) Michael van Gerwen vs Gary Anderson (6) Jose de Sousa vs Adrian Lewis
Tuesday October 4 (1900 BST) 8x First Round matches (best of three sets) Madars Razma vs Ryan Searle Ross Smith vs Andrew Gilding Danny Noppert vs Gabriel Clemens Joe Cullen vs Damon Heta (8) Rob Cross vs Daryl Gurney (5) James Wade vs Martin Lukeman (1) Gerwyn Price vs Martin Schindler (4) Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall
Check out daily Darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for mobile devices and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You can watch the 25th staging of the World Grand Prix ‘Double in, Double out’ set format on Sky Sports from October 2-8 in Leicester.
