After six years of marriage and two children, Ben and Una’s relationship fell apart when she reportedly discovered text messages revealing his affair.
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He was accused of infidelity with PR girl Becky Milne during a night out with his rugby friends, just days after the birth of his second child, Tadhg, who is now six.
At the time, they were planning to move to the US as Ben was set to play for a team in New York, but their plans were disrupted.
He told The Guardian: “At the moment anything that’s published about me is never very good and pretty rightly so, because I was the one who committed adultery.”
The former England fullback was seen on the dating app Bumble, with his bio stating that he was “getting divorced” and looking for love in the US.
It read: “Heading Stateside in December. Never believe in making plans, let’s just see what happens and how things go. If you’re uptight and bossy I’m not for you. Getting divorced. 2 little people who are my world.”
Ben later claimed that Una, who used to be a member of the pop group The Saturday’s, was aware of the account and even helped him create his profile.
He later admitted that he will never stop loving his ex-wife and regrets hurting her.
“My life’s a bit of a mess. I’ll always love Una. She’s my first love and the mother of my kids,” he said. “I never meant to hurt her in the way I did.”
He later married New Yorker Jackie on the same day his divorce from Una was finalised in 2019, after just two weeks of dating.
In a statement, Ben said: “This last year has been by far my toughest and most turbulent for a number of reasons that many of you I’m sure are aware of, in some way or another. The world has a funny way of working things out, many people think I’m a bad person—as I’m sure there’ll be many nasty comments left under this post by keyboard warriors aplenty. But I met a girl who seriously swept me off my feet and in a time of hardship showed me love, a deep devoted love. People will say we are mad or crazy or even fools, as @snackyjax and I had only been dating seriously for a little over two weeks before deciding to get married. But when someone like her comes into your life, why would I wait?”
Mike Tindall is one of rugby’s richest men with huge net worth
The rugby world isn’t just about breathtaking tries and fierce tackles; it’s also a realm where fortunes are made. Here’s the lowdown on the top 10 wealthiest rugby players right now:
10. Owen Farrell – £1.46 million ($2 million)
Saracens are making waves in the Premiership, and Owen Farrell, their skipper, is reaping the rewards. The bulk of his net worth, a cool £1.46 million, flows directly from his dedication to Saracens.
9. Maro Itoje – £1.46 million ($2 million)
Teammate to Farrell both at England and Saracens, Maro Itoje is on a trajectory to become one of rugby’s highest earners. His salary, comparable to the national skipper’s, showcases his potential.
8. Charles Piutau – £1.85 million ($2.5 million)
Former All Blacks player Charles Piutau’s move to Bristol Bears came with an eyewatering salary. The club’s investment in him during his five seasons speaks volumes about his impact.