10 May 2023 , 09:44
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Laila Rouass and Ronnie O'Sullivan's romance was one no one saw coming when they first got together – including the pair themselves.
Footballers Wives actress Laila, 47, and snooker legend Ronnie, also 47, sparked a romance after a complete chance meeting.
Laila and Ronnie 'The Rocket' first met when the actress was house hunting.
Strictly Come Dancing star Laila previously recalled of their encounter in 2012: "It happened by accident. I was shown around Ronnie’s house by his father, who told his son about meeting me.
"Ronnie called the estate agent, a friend of mine, and asked me out via her.
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"When he said he was a snooker player I said, 'yeah but what does he do for a living?' I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all, although Ronnie's won me over to snooker."
(lailarouass/Instagram)
The pair were together for 10 years before a brief split (Getty Images)The pair sparked a romance and became engaged the following year. But, they didn't tie the knot.
In 2019, Laila and Ronnie explained why they were yet to walk down the aisle.
She told the Mirror: "I’d have to really gear myself up for a wedding. At the moment we’ve put it on the back burner and we’re enjoying our time so there’s no rush."
Ronnie added: "It becomes a bit more important as you get older for legal reasons but for now we're OK.
Laila and Ronnie got engaged in 2013 but haven't got around to tying the knot (Getty Images)"If something's not broke, why fix it? If it's working, why change a winning formula?"
The snooker star continued: "We’ve been engaged for a while now, so we know we want to be with each other, I’m sure we will get round to it.
"We’re very casual and laid-back about the whole thing anyway. When it happens, it will happen. I love her, I love her company, I admire her.
"She’s good for me in many ways and understands me and the business and gets it and what I go through."
However, last year the couple hit a bump in the road during their 10 year romance as Laila announced on Twitter they had split.
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Laila Rouass discussed her reunion with Ronnie on Loose Women in May last year (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)She penned in February last year: "After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways. Peace & love to you all. Laila X."
However, the split didn't last long as Laila was photographed wearing her engagement ring again in April of the same year fuelling speculation the pair were back on.
And, in the following month in May, Holby City actress Laila confirmed she had reunited with Ronnie 'The Rocket as she appeared on Loose Women and gave details on their split.
Laila explained that, at the time of her tweet to announce they had parted ways, the pair had already been broken up for eight months.
After a split, the pair found their way back together (REX/Shutterstock)But, after the announcement, Laila revealed they had "found our way back".
She told the show's panellists: "Me and Ronnie are back together, we found our way back.
"We just worked it out – back when I announced it, we hadn't been together for almost eight months at that time.
She added: "Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want – when you get older that is much easier to say too."
Snooker star Ronnie said he 'has to behave' after reigniting their romance (Getty Images)However, the star didn't reveal why she and Ronnie had gone their separate ways in the first place.
Now, Ronnie has revealed he "has to behave" following his reconciliation with the actress.
Ronnie said of their romance through a smile: "It’s good.
"She’s great. I love her. She’s great company and I love being around her.
"She’s very supportive. I have to behave myself. I know when to go, 'Alright, you’re in charge'. But she’s also really good at going, 'Listen, you’ve got a busy life, you’ve got a lot to do, just get on with it'.
"Now it feels a lot better – everyone’s just in a better place. I just want to see her and her daughter happy, and her family, who are like my family, happy."