Ben Foden reunites with kids after marrying girlfriend of two weeks Jackie Belanoff Smith

Ben Foden has reunited with his young children one week after he tied the knot with girlfriend of two weeks Jackie Belanoff Smith.

The rugby player shocked fans last week after marrying New Yorker Jackie in a surprise ceremony on board a boat in Massachusetts.

However, Ben soon returned to the UK, where he spent some much needed time with his kids, seven-year-old Aoife and four-year-old Tadhg, with Irish pop star Una Healy.

The 34-year-old documented his family time on social media, sharing a video as he cradled his daughter and watched his son play with his toys.

‘Well this Saturday is a little different from the last,’ Ben joked.

Despite splitting from ex-wife Una in 2018, the pair have stayed on good terms for their children’s sake, with The Saturdays’ singer even giving her former husband ‘her blessing’ in his new marriage.

‘The only thing that matters is family,’ the fullback wrote on his post.

The star then used his Instagram Story to address the backlash against his marriage, writing: ‘Never knew I was so popular or well unpopular.’

He continued: ‘Thank you for all the nice messages and comments as for the others.

‘I’m glad you can vent on me (I can handle it) and hope you find peace and happiness #cloud9.’

After reports began to emerge that the couple had got hitched after knowing each other for such a short time, Ben took to Instagram to set the record straight.

‘This last year has been by far my toughest and most turbulent for a number of reasons that many of you I’m sure are aware of, in some way or another,’ he told his followers.

‘The world has a funny way of working things out, many people think I’m a bad person – as I’m sure they’ll [sic] be many nasty comments left under this post by keyboard warriors a plenty.