Ben Foden and his wife Jackie Belanoff Smith have revealed they are debating moving from New York back to the UK.
Speaking to OK! Magazine, the sports star, 36, whose children Aoife, nine, and Tadgh, six, live with his ex Una Healy in Ireland, explained that they are exploring their options after Ben declined a return to his New York rugby team.
Following his debut on Dancing On Ice last week, the couple not only spoke about their living situation but also Ben’s infidelity on Saturdays star Una, 40, leading to Jackie, also 36, insisting her husband would never be unfaithful.
Loved up: Ben Foden’s wife Jackie Belanoff Smith has staunchly insisted he would ‘never’ cheat on her, despite his unfaithful behaviour to ex-wife Una Healy
Ben and Jackie tied the knot in 2020- a year and a half after his marriage broke down with Una and the couple have lived in New York where he has been playing rugby.
In July 2018, Rugby United New York announced that they had signed Foden for the 2019 Major League Rugby Season.
On returning to play for NYC’s Rugby United, he said: ‘They asked me to play again this year and I declined. I wanted a break from rugby to assess where I am. I want to transition from playing into coaching…
‘There’s lots of opportunities in America as it’s such a big country and the sport is only just taking off. Over here, it’s saturated, so it’s just about finding what works financially.’
Who cares? Jackie said of Ben and his partner Robin Johnstone: ‘Someone said this and I was like, ‘What curse?’ I’d heard of the Strictly curse, but not a Dancing On Ice one. I don’t have any worries. We’re very much the same person and on the same track’
Hard work: In July 2018, Rugby United New York announced that they had signed Foden for the 2019 Major League Rugby Season
On moving, Ben, who shares daughter Farrah, 22 months, with Jackie, said: ‘It’s a big question we’ve been asking ourselves a lot. Jackie wouldn’t mind moving over here.’
Jackie added: ‘It just depends on after rugby, where Ben can work. There are major colleges who have offered him jobs in America but he’s shopping around right now to find the best fit.’
Jackie revealed she is staying in the UK for the entirety of Ben’s Dancing On Ice stint ahead of his kids visiting from Ireland.
She said: ‘We’ll be here until the end of March. We have the kids again in February for half-term. Aoife’s birthday is 13 March, so tickets are booked for the end of March.’
Elsewhere, Jackie staunchly insisted Ben would ‘never’ cheat on her, despite his unfaithful behaviour in the past. She dismissed any suggestion that they may fall victim to ‘the show’s curse’ on their relationship.
Tough times: Ben admitted he owes Una an apology for marrying Jackie ‘so quickly’ after their split – after tying the knot in 2020- a year and a half after his marriage broke down with Una, 40, due to his cheating (Una and Ben in 2017)
As well as romanticising their own union, Ben admitted he owes Una an apology for marrying Jackie ‘so quickly’ after their split.
It seems Jackie has no concerns about history repeating itself, as she said to OK!: ‘From day one he’s never made me feel paranoid or insecure…
‘He’s not once worried me. I think you just know, deep down, when that could happen and it’s not a possibility with us, so I’m not concerned.’
She went as far as joking about the possibility, saying: ‘I look forward to the day when Ben actually cheats on me, because it would be hysterical to see the downpour of fire and rain that comes down upon him… I’m kidding.’
Starring role: Jackie revealed she is staying in the UK for the entirety of Ben’s Dancing On Ice stint ahead of his kids visiting from Ireland