Rugby player Richie Myler has become a dad again as his partner Stephanie Thirkill has given birth, it has been reported. Richie, who is the ex-husband of Helen Skelton, is said to have been absent from his team, Leeds Rhinos' match against Hull Kingston Rovers on Friday evening (March 31).
After he was missing from the game, Richie's team coach Rohan Smith confirmed that the star did not play as he was in hospital with Stephanie following the birth of their first child together. Rohan told The Mirror: "Richie has spent a bunch of time in hospital with the birth of his new little baby, so we've given him a little time off to settle in at home."
Richie already has three children from his previous relationship with Countryfile and Strictly star Helen: Ernie, Louis and Elsie. It was announced that he was expecting a fourth child with Stephanie in October 2022, just months after his split from Helen and the birth of their third child together.
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One of his friends told The Sun that, despite the timing being questionable in some people's eyes, Richie and Stephanie are very happy together. "The timing of the pregnancy may raise a few eyebrows," they admitted in late 2022.
"It is obviously such a huge step, and one made remarkably quickly off the back of Helen and Richie's eight-year marriage ending. But Richie and Helen maintain cordial relations, and, in a way, the timing is actually perfect as Helen is so happy at the moment.
"She is loving every second of Strictly Come Dancing and is far too busy - and probably knackered - to be worrying about her ex, accordingly, Richie didn't think it would be a huge problem because they have both moved on with their lives."
Despite the source alleging that Helen and Richie were maintaining "cordial relations", the news came as Helen went from strength to strength in the Strictly Come Dancing 2022, with some suggesting that she gave "the middle finger" to her ex with one routine. In one Cabaret-inspired performance to Mein Herr, Helen exuded power and sass throughout her dance with Gorka Márquez before slaying the scoreboard, earning three tens and a nine from amazed judges.
Richie confirmed the news that Stephanie was pregnant on Instagram last autumn, with a loved-up snap that showed the couple embracing. He showed his love for her with a simple red heart emoji. It is understood that Helen knew about her husband's unborn child before it was announced to the world that Stephanie was expecting.
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