Premier League debut for Rocky

LOCAL darts ace Josh Rock will make his debut in the Premier League this year after being included in the eight-man line-up for the 16-week tournament.

He has been included as one of the four wildcards for the prestigious competition, which begins on February 5.

Rock becomes the first Northern Ireland player to feature in Premier League Darts since his fellow World Cup winner Daryl Gurney in 2020.

That triumph alongside Gurney in Frankfurt last June topped off a breakout 2025 for the former Parkhall College student, which included semi-final appearances in the UK Open and World Matchplay tournaments.

Josh reached the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals before equalling his career-best run in the World Darts Championship, reaching the Fourth Round at Alexandra Palace.

Now the 24-year-old now has the chance to test his mettle against the best of the best in darts, which begins at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle early next month.

Back-to-back world champion Luke Littler, beaten finalist Gian van Veen, defending Premier League champion Luke Humphries and Dutch legend Michael van Gerwen were already assured of their places as the top four players in the world rankings.

And that quartet has been joined by World number nine Rock, Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price as the wildcards.

The tournament concludes with Finals Night at the O2 Arena in London on May 28, with Rock having the opportunity to play in front of a home Northern Ireland crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast on February 26.

Trips to Berlin and Rotterdam are also on the agenda for Rock as he casts his sights on making a major impact on the Premier League.

He has made two PDC major semi-finals in 2025 - in the UK Open and the World Matchplay.

He threw his first televised nine-dart finish at the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts in his match against Michael van Gerwen.

In his youth career, Rock found success in the PDC's youth system, most notably winning the PDC World Youth Championship in 2022.

He also won five PDC Development Tours in 2022.

This week he was back on his old stomping grounds entertaining fans at The Top of the Town in Antrim.

He also met rising star Lee ‘The Shield’ Shields, the Antrim schoolboy who is making serious ripples in the game.

“What a great weekend catching up with one of my favourite dart players and Premier League star Josh ‘Rocky’ Rock At the Top of the Town!” said Lee.

“It was a great event and thanks to all.”

And it was very much an Antrim affair - as former World number one snooker star Mark Allen was also there!