Irish dancer Sam Davies has stepped into an international ranking after his performance in the 40th Irish dancing world championships.

Dancing on the weekend of his 21st birthday, Sam secured a 10th place in the men's 19-21 category of the contest in Glasgow to receive one of its coveted commemorative medals. As a world medal holder, he now automatically qualifies for the 2011 championships which take place in Dublin.

He was competing against over 40 dancers from as far afield as the USA and New Zealand in the competition organised by the world's leading Irish dancing organisation, An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha.

Sam, of New Hedges, began Irish dancing at the age of nine with the Hynes School of Irish Dancing in Saundersfoot, going on to win five All-Ireland titles with the organisation Cumann Rince Naisiunta (Crn).

Currently studying for a degree in mathematics at Trinity College, Dublin, he made the move to An Coimisiun in 2009 and now dances with the renowned Ui She school in Dublin, where amongst his teachers is former lead Riverdancer and 11-times world title holder, Colm O'Se.