"Us Welsh boys, we're going to stop them" - Fired-up Jonny Clayton sends message to Luke Littler & Luke Humphries

Ahead of the start of the 2025 World Cup of Darts this Thursday, sparks are already flying. Two-time World Cup winner Jonny Clayton is the latest to try and play some mind games, sending a message of intent on behalf of the Welsh team to pre-tournament favourites, England's Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.

Much of the hype has been all about the pairing of Littler and Humphries in the build-up to this year's event. As Clayton is keen to insist however, England are far from the only contenders travelling to Germany, with he and Gerwyn Price at the front of the queue for Wales.

"We've got our hands on the trophy twice and now we want it a third time," says 'The Ferret' fiercely in quotes collected by Sky Sports. "People have been asking the question whether Gezzy is playing or is he not playing. If Gezzy says he's playing, that's good enough for me so that's all that counts."

In 2024, Price was a last minute absentee for the World Cup of Darts and the Welsh team felt the loss of 'The Iceman' dearly. Alongside Price's replacement Jim Williams, Clayton fell to disappointing second round defeat at the hands of Croatia.

With Price back by his side though, Clayton is clearly fired up and full of confidence this time around. "I don't care that England are world No 1 and No 2, it's us Welsh boys, we're going to stop them. We're there to win the trophy," he declares. "You want to win trophies you've got to beat the big name players. We're both in good form. Gezzy has come out of the Premier League after Finals Night and I'm playing tidy darts so we're ready to go. We want this trophy."

"All the headlines are the two Lukes and the other bit is can Jonny and Gezzy stop them? Jonny and Gezzy will stop them if we meet them," continues the confident Clayton. "We want to be the World Cup champions. Me and Gezzy have got a good click, good days, it's all rugby banter."

Given that all the pre-tournament expectation is on England, Clayton also believes Wales can benefit from being out of the spotlight. "There's always pressure on the favourites," explains the Welshman. "If the favourites don't perform then they get it from every angle. Whoever wins it will have played very good darts. If England are standing in front of us then they're going to have some trouble."

"They doing everything right and you can never knock that," Clayton adds. "But the world No 5 and world No 10 have got something to say in a team event. No matter what rank you are we're all going to try and do well for each other."

This year perhaps more than ever before, there is also a growing feeling that a first ever pairs nine-darter could be on the cards at the World Cup. "Hopefully some history will be made but hopefully Gezzy can share what the three darts are worth with him. He might give me a dart. That'll do me fine," joked Clayton in conclusion. "If you hit a nine-darter you've got to be on song and I think Gezzy has proven that he is on form by reaching the finals of the Premier League. It's going to be a Welsh win."