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Love Island: All Stars winner Ciaran Davies has finally broken his silence on his split from Samie Elishi as she continues to ‘grow close’ to Tyrique Hyde.
However, just three weeks after leaving the All Stars villa, the couple called time on their romance.
Now, Ciaran, 23, has revealed what really happened between him and Samie, 25, while also addressing rumours of a crossover involving Tyrique, 26, during an appearance on the Not My Bagg podcast this week.
Speaking to host Joe Baggs, the reality star insisted their relationship in the villa was ‘good’ and ‘genuine’, but their picture-perfect romance quickly unravelled after their win.
Ciaran explained: ‘From leaving the villa I went straight back to South Wales… Samie went straight to London.
‘We were talking everyday, we would be on Facetime every night the communication was great – we set plans for meeting up with each other a week later.’
The rugby player revealed he later travelled to London to meet Samie’s family and take her out for dinner, but things soon changed after he returned home.
He said: ‘I knew she was busy, she was going to New York. Then the messages started to get very very distant. I felt the energy wasn’t being matched.’
The star added that after trying to call her, he realised the relationship had become ‘one-sided’.
Just two days into Samie’s New York brand trip, Ciaran claimed she called him, and that was the end of their relationship, with Ciaran insisting the split did not come from his side.
Since their breakup, a rumoured new beau has quickly taken centre stage in Samie’s life.
Eagle-eyed fans have noticed a growing bond between the 26-year-old influencer, who first appeared on the ninth season of Love Island in 2023, and fellow alum Tyrique, from season ten.
And now insiders have told Daily Mail’s Molly Clayton that Samie’s connection with Essex-born semi-professional footballer Tyrique may have been brewing long before she ever decided to try her luck again on the All Stars version of the show.
Indeed, according to a source close to the situation, the cracks between Samie and Ciaran appeared almost immediately after the show wrapped.
Samie, who is from Islington in north London, worked as a senior estate agent coordinator prior to the show while Cieran hailed from the rural town of Pencoed in South Wales – and the cultural differences became impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Tyrique, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was already embedded in Samie’s social circle and aligned in terms of lifestyle and outlook.
‘Samie and Ciaran came out of Love Island and went to visit Wales almost instantly,’ the source said.
‘When they got there, Samie decided Ciaran wasn’t for her as he came from a small town. She realised their lives were too different.’
It was a stark realisation for a couple who, on screen, had appeared aligned in both ambition and affection.
But thousands of miles away from the South African villa where All Stars was shot, reality quickly set in and the pace of their lives and upbringings reportedly clashed.
‘She came back from Wales, and went on a date with Tyrique,’ the insider said.
‘And the pair have been spending a lot of time together. They have even booked a trip in a few weeks’ time to see if they get on well.’
The revelation raised eyebrows among fans, particularly given Tyrique’s very public admiration for Samie in the months leading up to her All Stars appearance.
Long before rumours of their romance surfaced, Tyrique had made no secret of his attraction.
In an online clip months before Samie entered the villa, when asked hypothetically who he would most like to share a bed with, Tyrique didn’t hesitate: ‘Samie, she’s very good looking.’
Then, days before the latest All Stars season started, he admitted: ‘I rate Samie. She’s a good-looking girl. I’ve seen her in real life and I have been around her at events and she is so cool.’
In another small but telling gesture the 26-year-old went on to comment ‘Happy New Year’ under Samie’s Instagram post on January 5 alongside a heart emoji.
Even casual interactions at the beginning of this year hinted at his interest. When invited to lunch by fellow Love Islander Whitney Adebayo, his first question was reportedly: ‘Is Samie going to be there?’
For some, these moments suggest Tyrique’s feelings were not only genuine but long-standing. And for others, they add fuel to speculation that Samie may have been aware of his interest all along.
‘Tyrique made his feelings clear before she even went in the villa,’ the insider claimed. ‘Some close circles are wondering if this was her game plan all along.’
Still, Tyrique himself has been quick to shut down suggestions that he played any role in Samie and Ciaran’s split.
Last week he confirmed that ‘Samie is a special person in my life right now,’ and later said: ‘She supports my rights and wrongs. I just want to finish up here so that I can FaceTime her.’
And he has since doubled down on distancing himself from the break-up timeline: ‘People are saying I’m the reason her and Ciaran broke up. How can I be the reason? I’m in Essex, she was in New York, and he was in Wales.’
