Gerwyn Price, the fiery Welsh darts star known as “The Iceman,” has never been one to follow a conventional path. At 40, with a World Championship title, multiple major wins, and a rock-solid place among the PDC elite, he now reflects on how a reluctant weekend trip nearly a decade ago launched a career that transformed his life in ways he never imagined. What started as a casual favour for friends turned into a financial shock and, ultimately, a dream he’s grateful he never saw coming.
In a candid conversation on the podcast *Tops & Tales* with PDC referee Huw Ware, Price opened up about his unlikely entry into professional darts. A former rugby player who had only picked up darts seriously for about six months, he was far from a household name when he headed to Q School. The push came from fellow Welshman Barrie Bates, who had been messaging and encouraging him for two years.
“I only went there because Barrie Bates was twisting my arm, messaging me and enticing me to go for like two years, and I eventually went,” Price recalled. “I had no expectations of myself at all. I was just there to support Barrie and Jon Worsley, have a weekend away and just try my luck.”
To everyone’s surprise—including his own—Price was the only one from his group to earn a Tour Card. At the time, he had little idea what life on the PDC circuit truly entailed. The costs hit hard once the reality sank in.
“If I’d known at the time that we had to pay to enter Pro Tours—which was a hundred quid plus a fiver for markers—and pay to enter the European Tours, so a weekend with the hotel could cost me a grand, if I knew that I wouldn’t have come,” he admitted with characteristic bluntness. “But looking back, I’m glad I didn’t know.”
That honesty captures the essence of Price’s journey. Before darts consumed his world, he was a rugged rugby forward, balancing local pub tournaments with Saturday matches on the pitch. He dominated those early darts events, often walking away with the £300, £400, or £500 top prizes. His first encounter with Bates happened in the George pub in Aberbargoed. Fresh to the sport, Price comfortably beat the more experienced player.
“I played Barry and smashed him up in the George,” he laughed. “And he was like, ‘Why don’t you f*** off back to rugby?’”
Despite the initial ribbing, a friendship formed, and Bates kept urging him toward Q School. Price resisted at first, insisting, “I’m a rugby player—no, it’s not for me.” County darts also took a backseat to rugby commitments. He only ever played one A-team match for Gwent, stepping in on a Sunday when they needed a result. He delivered an 84 average victory against veteran Tony O’Shea and never returned to county duty.
Even now, Price admits his memory of those early nerves is hazy. “To be honest with you, my memory is shocking, so I can’t even remember how I felt,” he said. “But I don’t think I would’ve been nervous. It was just another game day.” He still feels a touch of anxiety only in first-round matches, preferring early slots on the card so he knows exactly when he’s up rather than waiting around.
Life on tour has evolved dramatically. In his younger days, a trip to Barnsley might end with a night out. Now, at 40, Price describes himself as “boring”—early to bed, early gym sessions, and a focused routine that suits him perfectly. “For me it works, but everybody’s different,” he noted, comparing it to greyhound racing where some dogs need daily walks and others perform straight from rest.
Away from the oche, the passionate stage performer is surprisingly introverted. “If there’s 30 people in the room, I’m probably the last one you’re going to hear,” he said. “I’ll be sat at the back.” That quiet nature carried over from his rugby days, where he dreaded being singled out in video analysis sessions.
At the heart of his success and stability is his wife, Bethan. The couple met when Price was 17, working odd jobs like mopping floors and collecting glasses at Markham Rugby Club. Her unwavering support has been a game-changer. “Without that support, it’s definitely a lot harder,” he emphasised. “Every time I’m away, it’s constant support. There’s never any, ‘I don’t want you to be away this week.’” When Bethan travels with him, results often improve—she’s become something of a good-luck charm. “Every time she comes with me, Pete’s like, ‘You’re winning this weekend,’” Price smiled.
The couple, married since 2018, share two daughters and have built a life beyond darts. Price juggles professional commitments with business ventures, including darts academies, a fish and chip shop, and a farm that offers the smallholding privacy he craves. Running operations while on the road brings challenges, but it keeps him grounded. “I’ve always wanted just a bit of a smallholding, something out of the way a little bit,” he explained.
Looking ahead, retirement feels distant. He recently signed a 10-year deal with Red Dragon, committing to darts until he’s 50. While he might eventually scale back Pro Tours and European events to focus on TV majors and stay in the top 16, he insists he’ll never fully put the darts down. Even the sport’s biggest payday—the £1 million World Championship prize—wouldn’t drastically alter his grounded outlook. “It is a lot of money, but it wouldn’t change anything about me,” he said. “It would just go into the pot… My life wouldn’t change.”
From a reluctant Q School participant who nearly balked at the hidden costs to a world champion and family man with a thriving career, Gerwyn Price’s accidental detour into professional darts has proven to be the best decision he never planned to make. That expensive weekend away didn’t just cost him a grand—it bought him a legacy, financial security, and a fulfilling life he cherishes every day. In hindsight, the “Iceman” wouldn’t trade it for anything.
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