‘Couldn’t ask for more’: Retired NRL star Sam Burgess celebrates his 31st birthday with his two children amid split from wife Phoebe
It’s certainly been an eventful year for NRL star Sam Burgess with his retirement as well as marriage breakdown.
But Sam was in good spirits on Saturday, taking to Instagram to share several celebratory photos from his 31st birthday.
Enjoying the day with his children, son Billy Mark, one, and daughter Poppy, two, the sportsman told his fans in the caption that he ‘couldn’t ask for more’.
‘Couldn’t ask for more’: Retired NRL star Sam Burgess (pictured, centre) celebrated his 31st birthday with his two children, son Billy Mark, one, and daughter Poppy, two, on Saturday
‘What a way to bring in 31, thanks everyone for your kind messages. Ate far too much chocolate cake but what a day,’ Sam added alongside the hashtags ‘silver fox’ and ‘fam bam’.
In the photos, the former South Sydney Rabbitohs prop went shirtless and embraced his two young children shared with estranged wife Phoebe, 30.
Sam could not wipe the smile off his face, and tagged his mother Julie Burgess, brothers Tom, Luke and George Burgess, George’s wife Joanna, and Tom’s girlfriend Tahlia Giumelli in the post.
Grateful: Taking to Instagram, Sam penned online: ‘What a way to bring in 31, thanks everyone for your kind messages. Ate far too much chocolate cake but what a day’
Family: The former South Sydney Rabbitohs prop could not wipe the smile off his face. Pictured on the left is Sam’s brother Tom Burgess
Proud father: Sam shared an adorable photo of his daughter Poppy
Phoebe was noticeably absent from the festivities. She did take to Instagram, however, to share several photos of Billy and Poppy from other occasions.
Meanwhile, the Instagram posts come two months after news broke that Phoebe and Sam had separated for good.
Phoebe and Sam, who married in December 2015, first separated late last year before rekindling their relationship in April. They split again in October.
Split: The Instagram post comes two months after news broke that Phoebe (pictured), 30, and Sam had separated for good
Sam quit rugby league on October 30, months after suffering a serious shoulder injury that would have needed two years to heal.
He was allegedly involved in an incident with his father-in-law at Phoebe’s family home near Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands on October 19.
Sam had visited the property to spend time with his children when Phoebe was not present, but was asked to leave by Mr Hooke following an alleged altercation during which police were called.
Timeline: Phoebe and Sam, who married in December 2015, first separated late last year before rekindling their relationship in April. They split again in October
At the time, police took out a temporary AVO on behalf of Mr Hooke, which was upheld by a court the following month.
While the AVO is in place, Sam is not able to go within one kilometre of his father-in-law nor any place he works.
Following the October 19 incident, Sam was also charged with intimidation. Sam has denied threatening the 63-year-old businessman.
Retired: Sam quit rugby league on October 30, months after suffering a serious shoulder injury that would have needed two years to heal. Pictured in 2017