World number one Gerwyn Price has said he may not play in the World Darts Championship again after wearing ear defenders in a 5-1 quarter-final loss.
The Welshman donned the ear defenders during the fifth set and switched to ear plugs for the sixth in an effort to block out noise from the crowd.
Price won the first set but Gabriel Clemens played superbly to become the first German to reach the semi-finals.
Following the game, a number of fans discovered the former world number one actually played professional rugby.
Price played as a hooker for Welsh Premier Division sides Neath and Cross Keys as well as rugby league with South Wales Scorpions.
He also had a short spell at Pro12 side Glasgow Warriors as injury cover for their first choice players.
During Price's time with Cross Keys, they won the 2011–12 WRU Challenge Cup, with Price scoring a try in the final.He ended his rugby career in 2014 in order to concentrate on playing darts full-time
Price also revealed how much he misses his rugby days and is planning to get his boots back on at some point in 2023.
“I’m constantly thinking about my old life, when I used to play rugby, when I used to be in a bit better shape than I am now. I didn’t have to suck it [his stomach] in as much back in the day,” he joked.
5 rugby stars who tried other sports: Johnson, Itoje, Williams…
Here are five rugby who tried other sports to a very high standard, with some of them actually achieving more...
#1. Sonny Bill Williams
Where else to start? The 35-year-old multi-sport athlete has confirmed his retirement from all forms of rugby earlier this year as he plots a return to boxing, full-time.
Williams has fought professionally seven times — most recently in 2015 — and won seven times, with three career knockouts.
#2. Maro Itoje - Shot put
The England forward played several other sports in his youth, including basketball, football, and athletics. However, he represented and starred for England at U17 level in Shot Put and was on course to be an Olympian before ditching the heavy round ball for an oval one full time.
DID YOU KNOW? So far in his rugby career, he has won four English Premiership titles with Saracens, three European Rugby Champions Cup titles, and four Six Nations Championship titles
#3. Gerwyn Price - Darts
Price, a former rugby union and rugby league professional, cemented his place in sporting history by winning the 2021 PDC World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace back in January
Having played as a hooker for Welsh Premier Division outfits Neath and Cross Keys, he played for South Wales Scorpions in rugby league as well as a short spell as cover with Pro12 side Glasgow Warriors.
#4. Heather Moyse - Bobsleigh
A Canada international in rugby union, both in 15s and sevens, and a 2x winner of a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in two-woman bobsleigh.
#5. Martin Johnson - American Football
The future World Cup winning England captain briefly played American football in the early 1990's for the Leicester Panthers, his local American football team as a tight end or defensive end, but he didn't consider taking it any further.
Johnson said: 'I'd never be quick enough. In our sport, you try to get good rugby players and make them into athletes. In the NFL they've got some good athletes who they make into players. How quick you do the 40 [run 40 yards] is the big thing. "What? He does the 40 in 4.2? He's that quick?" They love their stats.'
