Josh Rock, the current world number seven from Northern Ireland, has proposed a radical change to the PDC dress code, expressing a desire to play in shorts during major tournaments. Speaking on the Talking Bollox Podcast, Rock highlighted the challenging conditions players face under bright stage lights, particularly referencing the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt where he said, "you're sweating buckets." He believes he's not alone in this sentiment, adding, "I'd be shorts all day long. And quite a few other boys in that room would be shorts as well."
Beyond his dress code comments, Rock opened up about his significant physical transformation over the past year. He revealed that at last year's Matchplay, he weighed 18 and a half stone but has since lost three and a half stone, bringing him down to 15 stone. Rock noted the impact on his performance, stating, "I can see the difference in myself, like I don't sweat as much as I was back then. It was just because you're fat. So, I'm still fat now, but I'm not as fat as I was back then." He emphasized that his weight loss journey is ongoing, driven by a focus on health and longevity.
Rock also commented on the evolving image of darts players, observing that the sport has moved away from the stereotypical "beer bellies" of the past. He said, "Physically, if you look at darts over the years, it was always about beer bellies and that sort of thing. But you see that less now, so you've just got to take better care of yourself." Despite his impressive career achievements, including multiple major semi-finals and winning the World Cup of Darts with Northern Ireland, Rock keeps his ambitions grounded, with his ultimate goal being to become world champion while ensuring his family's well-being.
