Love Island star Scott van-der-Sluis has set tongues wagging with a cheeky jab at fellow Islander Ciaran Davies, all while going public with his own new romance. The footballer, known for his playful banter, couldn’t resist poking fun at Ciaran’s budding relationship with another Love Island alum, Emily Moran, after the pair confirmed their romance this week.
Scott, who has lived in Wales for work like Ciaran, took to social media with a sly dig, joking, “You are allowed to date outside the Welsh border, you know.” The comment, dripping with sarcasm, seems to call out Ciaran for sticking to a familiar pattern—dating within the Welsh Love Island circle—while Scott himself proudly steps out with his new girlfriend, whose identity he’s kept under wraps for now but is already sparking buzz among fans.
Ciaran, who was a runner-up on Love Island last year alongside Welsh beauty Nicole Samuels, saw that relationship fizzle out soon after the show ended. Fast forward to this week, and he’s now smitten with Emily Moran, hailing from Aberdare, Wales. Emily, a fan favorite from a different season, was famously dumped from the villa after Tommy Bradley returned from Casa Amor with blonde bombshell Lucy. But it seems Emily’s heartbreak was Ciaran’s gain, as the two have been inseparable since connecting post-villa.
The Sun was first to report the chemistry between Ciaran and Emily, revealing that their bond began when Ciaran reached out to Emily after her dramatic villa exit. “Ciaran initially messaged Emily to congratulate her on how she handled herself on the show,” a source shared exclusively. “That sparked a conversation, and things quickly turned romantic. They’re taking it slow, but there’s definitely a spark.”
The new couple was recently spotted on a cozy double date with fellow Islanders Harrison Solomon and Lauren Wood, dropping not-so-subtle hints about their relationship. Fans had been piecing together clues from their social media, and the double date confirmed what many suspected: Ciaran and Emily are officially an item.
Meanwhile, Emily is making waves outside of romance, capitalizing on her Love Island fame with a string of brand deals. “She’s taking every opportunity she can,” the source added. “Ciaran’s totally supportive of her hustle, as it’s just what you do when you leave the villa.” For now, Emily has no plans to return to her native Australia, focusing instead on her career in the UK—and perhaps her blossoming romance with Ciaran is giving her extra reason to stay. The source teased, “She’s got something big on the horizon with a major brand, so watch this space.”
But Scott’s playful shade at Ciaran hints at a deeper undercurrent of tension. The Love Island villa is no stranger to drama, and it seems the fallout from Ciaran and Nicole’s split has left some Islanders picking sides. A recent shady video posted by a group of villa stars appeared to take aim at Nicole, escalating the feud and adding fuel to Scott’s pointed comment about Ciaran’s dating choices.
As Scott basks in the glow of his own new relationship, his subtle dig at Ciaran has fans buzzing about a possible rift between the two. Is Scott calling out Ciaran’s hypocrisy, or is it just friendly banter? One thing’s for sure: the Love Island drama never stays in the villa for long.