ROCK PROPOSES MAJOR SHAKE-UP TO DARTS SCHEDULE
26/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
JOSH ROCK has put forward a new proposal aimed at revamping the darts schedule.
‘Rocky’ won the World Cup for Northern Ireland last year alongside teammate Daryl Gurney.
World No.9 Rock and Gurney came from behind to beat Wales 10–9 to lift the trophy in the final.
Rock was asked if he would like to see more pairs events on the PDC calendar.
He told talkSPORT: “One more pairs event where you can pick your own partner. Blind pairs.
“When I said pick your own partner, I meant you’re not allowed to pick your own World Cup partner because that’s a disadvantage.
“Gezzy (Gerwyn Price) and Jonny [Clayton], Luke [Humphries] and Luke [Littler], me and Daryl.
“So it would be a separate event but you’re not allowed to pick your World Cup partner.”
Rock hit out at rival Devon Petersen for his antics on stage during the World Cup last season.
The Antrim thrower claimed victory over Petersen’s South Africa to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Petersen had been talking throughout the match, but it was the moment he spilled part of his drink over Gurney’s darts case that crossed the line.
Rock was asked about the incident and whether an opponent had ever managed to get inside his head at the oche.
He added: “That one wasn’t so much my head. I still haven’t spoken to him about it.
“He was saying that it was on the stage that we said about the water.
“It wasn’t — it was behind the stage because I knew exactly where Daryl’s darts were and mine were.
“Daryl left his, and two of his darts were removed from his case. I’m not saying they purposely moved them, but there was a big, massive puddle of water on top of his case.
“So I don’t know what was going on there. There is no water near, and no drinks, because waters are left behind the stage.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
