Former Wales teammate Scott Baldwin has urged Gareth Davies to reconsider his international retirement ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Baldwin believes the 36-year-old scrum-half’s experience and composure under pressure could be invaluable, especially in high-stakes matches like a potential Wales-England quarter-final. Davies retired from Test rugby in 2024 after earning 77 caps over a decade, which included two Lions tours, a Grand Slam, and a Six Nations title.
Baldwin highlighted Davies’ recent impact for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship, where he came off the bench to spark a comeback against Benetton. Despite his age, Baldwin said Davies ‘did not look 36’ and brought outstanding energy that lifted the team. He compared Davies’ potential role to how South Africa used Schalk Brits in 2019 after his retirement.
While acknowledging Tomos Williams as Wales’ first-choice scrum-half, Baldwin argued that Davies’ World Cup know-how should be utilised strategically, possibly only for the tournament itself. He expressed hope that Wales could advance from their pool and reach the knockout stages in 2027, especially if their best 23 players are fit and available.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing