' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 11:41 am
' Darcy Blake now a Rugby player! '
21/09/2015
How former Cardiff City star Darcy Blake fell out of love with football and became a rugby player!
From football centre-half to rugby centre, Blake made an appearance alongside his New Tredegar teammates on Sunday night’s Scrum V.
He’s turned out for Premier League Crystal Palace, played for Cardiff City in the League Cup final against Liverpool in 2012 and kept a tight rein on England’s record-breaking goalscorer Wayne Rooney at the heart of the Welsh defence in a crunch European Championship qualifier at Wembley Stadium.
After his defensive masterclass under the North London arch just four years ago, Darcy Blake finally announced his arrival at the top table of the game confirming his status as a player of undoubted potential.
But since then a dramatic downward spiral saw the 26-year-old playing amateur football for North Gwent League club Tredegar Arms FC... and now it seems he’s fallen out of love with soccer completely turning out for New Tredegar seconds rugby team in Division Two of the Gwent, Newport and Pontypool District League.
From football centre-half to rugby centre, Blake made an appearance alongside his New Tredegar teammates on Sunday night’s Scrum V programme on BBC Wales, though after three appearances for the Rhymney Valley club, secretary Ray Davies admitted: “We’d all love to see Darcy playing football again because he is a talented lad.
“There is nobody at New Tredegar RFC telling him to stay with us and we’d love to see him playing football again.
“But he’s enjoying his rugby right now and hasn’t enjoyed his football for a couple of years. Darcy says that right now he’s fallen out of love with football.
“Darcy is playing at centre. He played rugby at school a little, but hasn’t played since because of his football career. There is no doubt Darcy is a strong boy, a talented sportsman who is doing well for our second XV.
“Whether he makes the first team, though, is another matter because he has a bit to learn about the game.
“He was on the Scrum V television programme with us and is enjoying the social side of rugby.”
Blake had been training with Tredegar Arms FC when he helped them out by playing in attack during an injury crisis and Dave Beynon, who started the club 24 years ago, said: “When he was a kid Darcy was chucked in as a striker for Jubilee Thistle at the ages of nine, 10 and 11 -years-old. He is a natural footballer who can do the job.
“He’s keen to get back into professional football and is reasonably fit right now. Darcy is a free agent and with some full-time work at a club he could be a quality signing.”
Blake himself tweeted: “I’ve changed into a rugby player but I will always love the (football) teams I have played 4 and support and follow them.”
Blake’s last match as a professional was for Newport County during May 2014, while his final match for Cardiff City came in the 2012 Championship play-offs.
He played 90 minutes in the first leg as the Bluebirds lost 2-0 against West Ham at home and went on as a second half substitute at Upton Park.
Blake, 26, later played for Crystal Palace and then Newport County, but he has been without a professional club since the end of 2013-14.
The former Blackwood Comprehensive School pupil joined Cardiff City’s youth development programme at 10-years-old and spent 14 years with the Bluebirds.
He played in the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley in 2012, making well over 100 first team appearances in total.
He also played for Wales at under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior levels, making his full debut against Switzerland in Basel during 2010. His final international outing was in a 2-0 defeat against Bosnia during August 2012.
Now Blake is playing rugby union and there are no signs of a return to professional football.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... r-10099269
21/09/2015
How former Cardiff City star Darcy Blake fell out of love with football and became a rugby player!
From football centre-half to rugby centre, Blake made an appearance alongside his New Tredegar teammates on Sunday night’s Scrum V.
He’s turned out for Premier League Crystal Palace, played for Cardiff City in the League Cup final against Liverpool in 2012 and kept a tight rein on England’s record-breaking goalscorer Wayne Rooney at the heart of the Welsh defence in a crunch European Championship qualifier at Wembley Stadium.
After his defensive masterclass under the North London arch just four years ago, Darcy Blake finally announced his arrival at the top table of the game confirming his status as a player of undoubted potential.
But since then a dramatic downward spiral saw the 26-year-old playing amateur football for North Gwent League club Tredegar Arms FC... and now it seems he’s fallen out of love with soccer completely turning out for New Tredegar seconds rugby team in Division Two of the Gwent, Newport and Pontypool District League.
From football centre-half to rugby centre, Blake made an appearance alongside his New Tredegar teammates on Sunday night’s Scrum V programme on BBC Wales, though after three appearances for the Rhymney Valley club, secretary Ray Davies admitted: “We’d all love to see Darcy playing football again because he is a talented lad.
“There is nobody at New Tredegar RFC telling him to stay with us and we’d love to see him playing football again.
“But he’s enjoying his rugby right now and hasn’t enjoyed his football for a couple of years. Darcy says that right now he’s fallen out of love with football.
“Darcy is playing at centre. He played rugby at school a little, but hasn’t played since because of his football career. There is no doubt Darcy is a strong boy, a talented sportsman who is doing well for our second XV.
“Whether he makes the first team, though, is another matter because he has a bit to learn about the game.
“He was on the Scrum V television programme with us and is enjoying the social side of rugby.”
Blake had been training with Tredegar Arms FC when he helped them out by playing in attack during an injury crisis and Dave Beynon, who started the club 24 years ago, said: “When he was a kid Darcy was chucked in as a striker for Jubilee Thistle at the ages of nine, 10 and 11 -years-old. He is a natural footballer who can do the job.
“He’s keen to get back into professional football and is reasonably fit right now. Darcy is a free agent and with some full-time work at a club he could be a quality signing.”
Blake himself tweeted: “I’ve changed into a rugby player but I will always love the (football) teams I have played 4 and support and follow them.”
Blake’s last match as a professional was for Newport County during May 2014, while his final match for Cardiff City came in the 2012 Championship play-offs.
He played 90 minutes in the first leg as the Bluebirds lost 2-0 against West Ham at home and went on as a second half substitute at Upton Park.
Blake, 26, later played for Crystal Palace and then Newport County, but he has been without a professional club since the end of 2013-14.
The former Blackwood Comprehensive School pupil joined Cardiff City’s youth development programme at 10-years-old and spent 14 years with the Bluebirds.
He played in the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley in 2012, making well over 100 first team appearances in total.
He also played for Wales at under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior levels, making his full debut against Switzerland in Basel during 2010. His final international outing was in a 2-0 defeat against Bosnia during August 2012.
Now Blake is playing rugby union and there are no signs of a return to professional football.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... r-10099269
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:05 pm
What a waste of talent.
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:24 pm
Forever Blue wrote:What a waste of talent.
Indeed Annis.
Leon Jeanne was another one though he had rather worse difficulties.
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:28 pm
davids wrote:Forever Blue wrote:What a waste of talent.
Indeed Annis.
Leon Jeanne was another one though he had rather worse difficulties.
David and Jeanne was class,another sad story.
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:31 pm
Are u shitting me? 
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:01 pm
Forever Blue wrote:What a waste of talent.
Blake didn't fall out of love with football; football fell out of love (and pity) with him!
He'll look back with enormous regret one day, if not already!
An enormous waste of talent and time spent by those who made him what he almost was!
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 4:16 pm
Forever Blue wrote:What a waste of talent.
I remember that we were sat together at Wembley a few years back when Blake took Rooney out of the game and was a revelation. That's a lot of talent to waste.
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 7:42 pm
World at his feet and spunked it, no sympathy most people would give their right leg for just the chance he had
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:51 pm
The lad had talent and it's a shame for him. He so could of made it in the Prem and in the Wales squad 
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:44 am
Shame ruined by being an outer and hangers on around him.rugby is probaby an escape but he will have massive regrets.
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Wed Sep 23, 2015 10:34 am
I bet he's enjoying the social side of rugby!
Re: ' Latest on Darcy Blake '
Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:59 pm
He could be playing at a top end champ/lower prem club and be making a challenge for a starting place in the Wales 11 if he had his head screwed on. What a mug.