Gerwyn Price was the victim of violent pub attack and now earns ...

Gerwyn Price is once again going for glory at the PDC World Darts Championship over the next week, a competition which he famously won in 2021.

The former Glasgow Warriors rugby player has had his fair share of controversies and is portrayed as a pantomime villain at any darts event outside of Wales, often being booed and abused by the crowds.

He is odds on to face Michael van Gerwen in the championship final (9/1). Van Gerwen also predicted that it would be himself vs The Iceman in the final on JaackMaate's Happy Hour Podcast.

Here's everything you need to know about the Markham man.

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Price was a semi-professional rugby player and even signed for Pro14 outfit Glasgow Warriors in 2013 from Cross Keys.

The Welshman was signed as injury cover for the Scottish club and left the following month. He also had trials with Dragons and Cardiff Rugby, but largely turned out as a hooker for Neath and Cross Keys.

Price now has a deal with Dragons RFC and can be seen wearing a t-shirt with the Dragons emblem on the back. Price's logo also features on Dragons' home and away kits this season.

Wales legend Mark Ring told WalesOnline that Price was good enough to play for Wales and maybe even the British and Irish Lions, if he had applied himself sooner.

"He had international class stamped over him as a rugby player, could definitely have gone on to play for Wales and the Lions if he'd perhaps applied himself a little sooner.

"In my view he could have been right up there with Ken Owens - and that's saying something because I really rate Ken, probably as the best hooker in the northern hemisphere."

Price even scored a try in the Swalec Cup final at the Principality Stadium in 2013.

Price needed 47 stitches after getting attacked outside a pub in Bargoed in 2010.

Speaking to ITV's Against The Odds documentary, Price revealed the details of the dark attack.

"Whenever I used to go out, for some reason I used to attract trouble or attention from the wrong people. I think I used to be a terror for my mam and dad, bless them, but that's when I was young and immature.

"There was one time in Bargoed, there was an altercation with two boys outside the pub, and one of them caught me from the side when I was talking to his mate, and I fell, cut my face and I think I caught my head on a kerb, so I think that was quite lucky."

Pointing to another scar, Price added: "This was from when I was out in Blackwood, I was only 17 years of age so I wasn't supposed to be out drinking.

"I can remember speaking to a boy out in a bar, and, out of the blue, for no reason, he pushes a pint glass in my face.

"I can't be doing with this hassle any more. I'd rather just have an easy life. I have kids. I had to settle down, and you change a little bit. I have changed for the better."

Price first earned his Tour card in 2014 and has since gone on to become one of the greatest players in the sport.

He is currently seeded fifth, having earned £662,250 in the last two years.

Along with fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton, Wales won the World Cup of Darts in 2020. Price has also picked up three Grand Slam of Darts titles (2018, 2019, 2021), one World Grand Prix (2020) and two World Series of Darts finals (2020 and 2022).

Price claimed the biggest prize in darts in 2021, defeating Gary Anderson to become world champion. However, that victory was secured in front of an empty arena, due to COVID social distancing restrictions, so he'll want to do it again in front of a big crowd this time.

The Welshman has previously explained that he wants to continue his time at the top of his game to secure the future of his family.

"The day after [becoming world champion], I thought 'what do I do now?' I'd won a World Championship, I'd become world number one and I didn't really see what else there was to do," he explained.

"It took me a couple of days or even a couple of weeks to think 'I want to win more majors, I want to win majors I haven't won, I want to win the Premier League'.

"I'd like to be successful, I'd like to win trophies and win majors and go down as one of the best ever.

"Life is too short to be in this game for too long. I want to earn as much as I can as quick as I can. It could be over as quick as it started."

As previously stated, Price is undoubtedly the pantomime villain in the sport, something which he manages to rise above.

Speaking on JaackMaate's Happy Hour in 2022, Price said: "It doesn't help that I'm Welsh playing in England with the crowds that they've got.

Speaking on playing in Wales, Price explained how different it is: "I played in Cardiff and it was buzzing, but then I go and play pathetic darts.

"I don't mind it (booing) to a certain extent. When I went out in Cardiff and they're all with you it was quite emotional because I don't really get support like that. When you're on stage and everyone's cheering your name, I just didn't know what to do, it's just what I'm not used to.

"As soon as I go back to Liverpool they're booing me. In Belfast they were booing me, it sort of brings the best out of me but I'm not sure if I like it."

The hate even forced Price to don a pair of huge ear defenders to block out heckling on New Year's Day 2023. PDC went on to amend the rules to make it illegal to wear earphones at a match.

Under 5.17.4 of the Darts Regulation Authority rulebook, it states: “Players are not permitted to wear earphones, headphones or headphone-type ear defenders during the throw at the bull prior to the match or during matchplay.”