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Wales Online
5 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Welsh exile unsure why he's not eligible for Wales and makes statement on future
Welsh exile unsure why he's not eligible for Wales and makes statement on future The fly-half has played the best rugby of his career since leaving Wales for France and is now on the brink of the 'promised land' Davies has been tearing it up in France since leaving Wales in 2023 (Image: Stephane Pillaud/Icon Sport via Getty Images ) Welsh international fly-half Sam Davies has admitted he is unsure over whether he is eligible to represent Wales after another hugely impressive season in France. Davies left Wales to join Pro D2 side Grenoble in the summer of 2023 and has played, by his own admission, the best rugby of career since making the move. After being named the league's best player in his first season at the club, he has continued his fine form into his second campaign and has now scored a remarkable 488 points in 49 appearances since joining. Grenoble finished top of this year's Pro D2 table and are pushing to finally win promotion to the Top 14 after another Davies-inspired performance saw them defeat George North's Provence in the play-off semi-finals to put them one win away from the top flight. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Davies' side have suffered play-off final heartbreak in each of the last two seasons, losing to Oyonnax in 2023 and Vannes in 2024 while also tasting defeat in the second-chance matches against Perpignan and Montpellier respectively. However, they are up against surprise package Montauban in Saturday afternoon's final and will be hoping to finally break the curse with the Welshman's help. "We're all very well aware that this is our third final, but we also feel like this is the most prepared we've been and this is the right time for us," Davies told The Times. 'This will be the most confident that we've been, I'd say, going into a final. At the same time, being fully respectful of our opposition and how well they're playing.' Article continues below With media in France hailing Davies as a "maestro", his consistently impressive performances have led fans to question why the 31-year-old - who won the last of his eight Welsh caps in 2017 - has not been called back into the Wales squad, particularly with fly-half proving a problem area for the national team in recent times. The outside-half attracted interest from English and Welsh sides earlier this season but opted to sign a new deal to remain at Grenoble, but while he falls short of 25 caps, he has previously claimed that he is still eligible to represent Wales due to a loophole in the controversial law. "I think I am allowed really because the rule around whether you get an offer from a region or a fair one is related to the cap rule," he told the RosbifsRugby podcast. "There's an argument to say I never got a fair offer and before this contract I've just signed, a couple of Welsh clubs were trying to talk to me but I didn't even entertain it so there were no offers." Speaking to The Times, Davies again admitted he didn't know why he wouldn't be eligible to play for Wales and, while he claimed that the "time has gone now", suggested that he would be open to a return to the international stage. 'It's difficult because representing your country is something that, as a kid, is your dream — that's your ultimate goal," he said. "I achieved that and it wasn't to the level I wanted to get to. I thought I could have, and maybe should have, played for Wales more. But that time has gone now. 'It's not to say that it may never happen again because I don't know what the rules are. I don't think anyone knows what the rules are. I haven't been offered a contract in Wales so I don't know why I'm not eligible to play for Wales." However, while a question mark remains over his international future, Davies is fully focused on reaching the "promised land" of the Top 14 with Grenoble and has compared the build-up to this weekend's play-off final with going into a Test match. "My focus remains solely on Grenoble," he said. "It feels like going into the weekend is an occasion like an international. Last year was my first experience of it and going into the semi-final on Thursday, I just hadn't felt like that before the game. 'I've played in semi-finals in the URC. I've played in quarter-finals in Europe. I haven't had that feeling of there's so much riding on a game with promotion and the other side you've got relegation. 'In the build-up to the week of the Provence game, I was just thinking, 'This is on par with that feeling of international-level rugby.' Just because of the size, the enormity of the occasion. "If you lose, you're playing in the same league for another 30 games. That's a long season. If you win, you go up into the promised land." Admitting he has "obviously come [to France] at the right time", Davies added: 'I'm very happy that I've signed a three-year extension at a club that has re-sparked my career. 'They want to shape the team around me. They allow me to make the calls. They know I've got experience. They know I've played international rugby. I still had to come here and earn that respect. Article continues below "I've got another three years here and I'm just so determined and focused to get into the Top 14.'
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
French Open ban announced as fans threatened with removal from Roland Garros
Fans will be banned from drinking alcohol in the stands at the French Open (Image: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images) French Open chiefs will ban supporters from drinking alcohol in the stands as they look to clampdown on bad behaviour. The second major of the year kicks off in Paris on Sunday, with Carlos Alcaraz the defending men's champion. Tennis bosses have been battling against a deteriorating level of fan behaviour during matches. At last year's tournament at Roland Garros, one supporter allegedly spat chewing gum at Belgian star David Goffin during his win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Tournament chiefs responded by introducing a mid-event alcohol ban in the stands. There is little sign that fan behaviour could improve, with a number of incidents during the Italian Open over the last fortnight. Women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka told a fan to 'shut the f*** up' after they yelled out at her during her quarter-final defeat to Zheng Qinwen. In the previous round, world No. 22 Clara Tauson confronted a crowd member who heckled her after she served a double fault against Mirra Andreeva, asking, 'Who are you?' before imploring the umpire to intervene. Meanwhile, men's star Jakub Menšík was involved in a similar confrontation during his match against Fábián Marozsán. That has convinced French Open chiefs to bring in firm rules for supporters. READ MORE: Andy Murray takes up completely new role away from tennis after Novak Djokovic split READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz makes feelings clear after beating Jannik Sinner on rival's return from ban Roland Garros director Amélie Mauresmo has confirmed to that alcohol consumption will be banned in the stands for the entire tournament this year. She warned that any fan whose behaviour falls below standards will be removed from the stands. "It will be fully renewed this year. You can obviously consume in the aisles. But once you're on a court, that's it. And if we notice any incidents, we don't hesitate to evacuate spectators," she told Ouest-France. "I also think that the post-Covid period has given people the desire to express themselves differently and more fully, to let go. And not just at sporting events." Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo has brought in the ban (Image: Antonio Borga/Eurasia) Alcaraz wrapped up his preparation for this year's tournament by winning the Italian Open, beating Jannick Sinner in Sunday's final. He is now totally focused on winning at Roland Garros for a second successive year. 'I'm just really happy to get my first Rome [title], hopefully it's not going to be the last one,' he said. 'The first thing I want to say is that I'm just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level. "I'm sure it wasn't easy for him coming back after three months and making the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament [back]. It's something insane, so I have to congratulate him. I'm proud of myself, with the way I approached the match mentally. "Tactically, I think I played pretty well from the first point until the last one. I didn't do a rollercoaster… I maintained my good level throughout the whole match, so I'm really proud about everything I did today. 'All eyes are on Paris right now, on Roland Garros. Beating Jannik, winning Rome, both things mix together and give great confidence going to Paris. I always say 'The final is not about playing, the final is about winning'. I just repeat everytime I play a final.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
