Levi Davis missing - latest news: Family issue fresh appeals to rugby star to come home

Ex-Bath winger and X Factor star disappeared in Spain 11 days ago

Rugby player Levi Davis' sister tearfully calls for missing brother to come home

Fears continue to grow for British rugby player Levi Davis, 24, who remains missing more than a week after disappearing in Barcelona, Spain.

A former Bath winger originally from Birmingham, Mr Davis most recently turned out for Worthing Raiders in the National League 2 South but is also well known for his appearances on ITV’s Celebrity X Factor as part of the group Try Star and on E4’s Celebs Go Dating.

He was last seen at The Old Irish Pub in the Catalan city on the evening of Saturday 29 October, having arrived from Ibiza by ferry saying he was intending to meet up with friends.

Mr Davis is known to have suffered mental health issues in the past, telling The Mail on Sunday in an interview that he had experienced anxiety and depression over his sexuality but had been moved by the emotional support he had received from his teammates.

His old team has joined family and friends in appealing on social media for help in finding him.

Key Points

• Rugby star still missing after disappearance in Spain last month
• Relatives issue fresh appeals for Levi Davis to come home
• Winger has history of mental health struggles, loved ones say
• Mother says personal problems left son in crisis
• Davis joined OnlyFans shortly before going missing

[8 November 2022 14:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Davis family issue fresh appeal for missing rugby star

Levi Davis’s sister Candeece and foster mother Suzanne Balfour spoke to Kay Burley on Sky News this morning, making a renewed appeal for him to contact them.

They are asked about a now-deleted three-minute social media video in which Mr Davis appeared to suggest he was being blackmailed, perhaps over his sexuality, but cannot cast any new light on the subject other than to say he appeared “frightened” and was perhaps “running from something”.

[8 November 2022 14:40 · Joe Sommerlad]

'I can't begin to understand how you're feeling but just know that I do love you’

Levi Davis’s mother Julie meanwhile appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain today to make a further appeal of her own, speaking straight to camera and addressing her son directly.

She is reportedly due to fly out to Barcelona, along with her eldest son Nathan, 34, to help police with their investigation.

[8 November 2022 15:20 · Joe Sommerlad]

Last Davis voice note reassures sister: 'I’ll catch you guys soon, 100 per cent’

The Daily Telegraph has posted the last voice note Levi Davis sent to his sister Candeece before he went missing on YouTube.

In the message, sent in response to her concern over the now-deleted “blackmail” video, he acknowledges that he has struggled with his mental health of late but assures them that he remains a “fighter” and promises them: “I’ll catch you guys soon, 100 per cent.”

Be warned that listening to it could prove distressing but, should you wish to, you can do so at your own discretion here.

[8 November 2022 16:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Levi Davis spoke openly about the personal issues ‘eating away at him’ in 2020

In an often very moving interview with fellow rugby star Ugo Monye for BT Sport conducted two years ago, Mr Davis spoke candidly about his decision to come out as bisexual, saying that lockdown had given him time to reflect on an issue that had been “eating away” at his mental health for four years.

He said he hoped to “be a shining light” for others, reflected on the difficulty of balancing his aspirations to be a singer with his loan move to Ealing Trailfinders and his childhood as an “upset, angry kid” who owed everything to foster care.

Perhaps most poignantly of all, he sings a song of his own composition with the lyrics: “I keep losing sleep over silly things/My anxiety needs to change before I hit the floor.”

[8 November 2022 16:35 · Joe Sommerlad]

Recap: British rugby star still missing 11 days after disappearing in Barcelona

Here’s a reminder of where we are at:

Fears are continuing to grow for the wellbeing of British rugby player Levi Davis, 24, who remains missing more than a week after disappearing in Barcelona.

A former Bath winger originally from Birmingham, Mr Davis most recently turned out for Worthing Raiders in the National League 2 South but is also known for his appearances on ITV’s Celebrity X Factor and E4’s Celebs Go Dating.

He was last seen at The Old Irish Pub near the Rambla dels Caputxins tourist area of the Catalan city at around 10.05pm on the evening of Saturday 29 October, having arrived in the city from Ibiza by ferry saying he was intending to meet up with friends.

Mr Davis was spotted on CCTV at the venue carrying a small black rucksack and wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, black trousers and black and white trainers.

It is feared he may have left Ibiza without clothes, money or his prescription medication.

A video he posted on social media and then deleted before the disappearance has meanwhile provoked suspicion that he might have feared being blackmailed, perhaps over his sexuality, Mr Davis having become the first openly bisexual male professional rugby star when he came out in 2020.

He has since spoken frankly about the negative impact keeping that secret had had on his mental health before he did so.

Laura Parnaby has this report.