Who is Michelle Ackerley's husband Ben Ryan and how long has she been married to the sports coach and former rugby player?

Scottish Sun

09-05-2025

MICHELLE Ackerley is expecting her first baby with her husband, rugby coach Ben Ryan, just a year after they tied the knot.
She posted a series of loved-up photos with Ben on Instagram, along with a picture of their baby scan. Here's what we know about him.
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Michelle Ackerley had been with Ben Ryan for many years
Credit: Instagram / Michelle Ackerley
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It will be the first child for Michelle and her husband
Credit: Instagram / Michelle Ackerley
Who is Michelle Ackerley's husband, Ben Ryan?
Michelle Ackerley's husband, Ben Ryan, is an English sports coach best known for leading the Fiji sevens rugby team to their historic gold medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which was Fiji's first ever Olympic medal.
He was in charge of the team from 2013 to 2016, during which time they claimed their first Dubai 7s title and set a new benchmark with nine tournament wins under his leadership.
Before coaching Fiji, Ben had a spell in charge of the England Sevens team.
The 53-year-old is now the Performance Director at Premier League football club Brentford.
Born on September 11, 1971, he graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc in Sports Science, before going on to earn an MPhil in Education from Cambridge University.
While at Cambridge, Ben then played scrum-half for the Varsity Match-winning teams in 1995 and 1996, earning two Blues, and also captained the Light Blues' Sevens side.
He ended up playing club rugby with Nottingham and West Hartlepool.
However, he began coaching the England Sevens team in 2007, leading them through 67 international tournaments and 378 games, making him the longest-serving coach in the role.
Under his leadership, England reached the semi-finals or better 28 times in the HSBC World Series and made the final of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens, their first in 20 years.
He also coached at the 2009 World Cup, 2010 Commonwealth Games, and won the 2011 Junior Commonwealth Games.
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Ben led England to multiple successes before stepping down in August 2013, when he was replaced by Simon Amor.
In September 2013, he became coach of the Fiji Sevens team and quickly made history, leading them to their first-ever Dubai 7s win in just his second tournament.
Despite financial struggles within the Fijian Rugby Union, Ryan went unpaid for several months.
Under his leadership, Fiji won nine World Sevens Series titles across three seasons, claiming the overall 2014–15 title.
In 2016, he guided Fiji to Olympic gold in Rio, the nation's first Olympic medal.
Ryan stepped down later that year and was honoured with the Fijian name, Ratu Peni Rayani Latianara, and gifted land in Serua as a mark of gratitude.
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Ben has been given various accolades in Fiji thanks to his Olympic win
Credit: Getty Images
He received the country's highest honour when he was made a Companion of the Order of Fiji.
He was also featured on the back of a circulating 50 cent coin and on the front of a special $7 commemorative banknote.
A year later, the Englishman joined the Welsh Rugby Union as a consultant, after being named coach of the year by the Rugby Union Writers' Club.
Ben lives in South West London with his wife and is a proud Brentford supporter.
How long has Michelle Ackerley been married to Ben Ryan?
In May 2024, Michelle tied the knot with her fiancé Ben, after being engaged since April 2022.
Ben had previously been married to Natalie Peck, with their wedding taking place in July 2009.
The couple separated in September 2016 and officially divorced on 2 August 2017.
They didn't have any children together.
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She shared a snap of the baby scan
Credit: Instagram / Michelle Ackerley
Then, on May 6, 2025, Michelle announced on BBC's Morning Live that she's four months pregnant.
Speaking on the show, Michelle said: "I still can't quite believe it myself really."
Appearing alongside her co-host Gethin Jones, Michelle talked about her husband's calming presence.
She said: "He has been so chilled.
"The thing is, I'm not really sleeping well at the moment so I've been waking up in the middle of the night at 3am and I've been taking it upon myself to wake Ben up and say this is what we are going to have to get used to!"
Michelle went on to discuss her pregnancy in a lengthy Instagram post in which she also addressed her fertility woes.
The TV presenter said: "I can't believe it's nearly been a year since getting married and I honestly didn't think 12months on that I'd be writing a post sharing that I'm pregnant….
"I wanted to share though as my journey with endometriosis and infertility is something I finally felt confident to start speaking about more openly last year - realising how many other women were going through similar experiences.
"Even at the very start of this year I was gearing up for yet another endo procedure and trying to come to terms with the mental & physical impact they can have.
"It has been quite the emotional rollercoaster.
"The news of falling pregnant really came as a massive surprise to both of us. We still can't quite believe it.
"And so in October, the start of a new chapter begins for @benryan7s and I, albeit with nervous and cautious excitement."