Scott Baldwin Urges Gareth Davies to Reverse Wales Retirement for 2027 World Cup

He could be just what you want in a quarter-final of a World Cup, in a Wales-England fixture in 12 months’ time, former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin told Radio Wales Sport, urging 36-year-old scrum-half Gareth Davies to reverse his international retirement for the 2027 World Cup. Davies officially stepped away from Test rugby in 2024 after earning 77 caps across a ten-year career that featured two British and Irish Lions tours alongside a Grand Slam and Six Nations title.

Scarlets Comeback Sparks National Debate

The conversation around a potential international recall intensified after Davies engineered a dramatic Scarlets comeback from a 21-7 deficit to defeat Benetton in the United Rugby Championship. Entering the contest as a second-half replacement for Dane Blacker, the veteran demonstrated immediate impact. Firstly, he did not look like a 36-year-old, he looked like someone who was out playing his first game – that’s how much it meant to him, Baldwin stated to Radio Wales Sport, noting the energy injection provided to the struggling side.

Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies echoed those sentiments, stating that the scrum-half’s contribution was superb. The club director acknowledged that Davies has occasionally struggled with having to sit in the wings a little bit because he’s such a competitor, yet praised how the veteran has adapted his approach to make a decisive difference off the bench.

Wales Considers Veteran Talent for 2027 Tournament Depth

Advocating for a conversation between Wales coach Steve Tandy and the veteran half-back, Baldwin pointed to South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus utilizing retired hooker Schalk Brits during the 2019 tournament as a blueprint for managing veteran talent. With Tomos Williams firmly established as Wales’ primary number nine, and regional competition coming from Ospreys scrum-halves Keiran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams, squad depth remains a central concern heading toward Australia 2027, where Wales is drawn into Pool F alongside Zimbabwe, Tonga, and England.

Reflecting on historical tournament resilience, Baldwin recalled the 2015 World Cup campaign—featuring the iconic Welsh victory over England where Davies scored a crucial try that contributed to the hosts’ early exit—noting how injuries forced tactical shifts like deploying Lloyd Williams on the wing. We’re a very resilient nation and sometimes we’ve got to be a little bit smarter on the players we’ve got, Baldwin told Radio Wales Sport, adding that securing a fit and healthy best 23 gives the nation a fighting chance.