International rugby star Jamie Ritchie has revealed the collapse of his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Millie Ritchie, after a relationship that began when they were just 15. The former Scotland captain, 29, is now returning to his homeland following the split, while Millie, also 29, has moved in with one of Jamie’s closest friends, who himself has recently separated from his spouse.
The Ritchies’ marriage abruptly ended last summer, just days before they were due to relocate to the south of France. They had been preparing to move after Jamie accepted a contract with French club USA Perpignan, packing up their townhouse and arranging a new home, only for the decision to separate to take everyone by surprise.
Jamie spent a year in France, enjoying a successful first season at his new club, but recently announced his intention to leave despite being under contract for another year. “It was a really difficult decision to make,” he told fans in a video released by Perpignan. He added: “The club has been very welcoming, as have the fans, but it’s a personal decision I have made to be closer to my kids and my family.” Jamie is expected to play for Glasgow Warriors next season.
Before their split, Jamie and Millie had been a very public couple, frequently sharing beaming snaps on social media. The Ritchies had met another couple years earlier, quickly forming close friendships. Millie’s new partner, who has become a mentor to Jamie in the past, shared business interests with her, and the two now live together after their respective marriages ended.
The couple had been together since their teens, engaged before marriage, and wed in 2021. Their relationship, once a picture of stability, ended quietly yet dramatically, leaving the former Scotland captain heartbroken.
The break-up echoes other high-profile rugby splits, including former Scotland teammate Stuart Hogg, who faced legal restrictions following his marital issues. Both Ritchie and Millie, as well as Scottish Rugby, declined to comment on the circumstances of the split.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
