Who is BBC Six Nations rugby pundit Ugo Monye? Strictly Come Dancing star’s life explained

FORMER England star Ugo Monye is on our screens for this year’s Six Nations after swapping his rugby boots for dancing shoes.

He is part of BBC Sport’s team on rugby coverage alongside familiar faces.

Ugo Monye is the first Strictly contestant to be announcedBBC

The wing ace took part in Strictly Come Dancing 2021 after being convinced by his friend Jamie Laing who took part in the 2020 series.

Who is Ugo Monye?

Born on April 13, 1983, and hailing from Islington in London, he is more used to the sports scene as a former rugby union player turned sports pundit.
Ugo began his career at an early age as a star athlete and competed in the English Schools’ Championships finishing 5th.

A student at Lord Wandsworth College, he eventually decided to pursue rugby when his former sports master Tim Richardson put him in touch with Harlequins’ coach, Colin Osborne.

He took part in Strictly in series 19 and was partnered with Oti Mabuse.

The couple finished in 11th place.

Just before the show started he revealed he had split with wife Lucy.

They married on April 16, 2016.

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The couple’s eldest daughter, Phoenix Lilly, was born on March 26, 2017.

Second daughter Ruby arrived on February 7, 2020.

Ugo is a former international rugby union playerGetty Images – Getty

Who did Ugo Monye play rugby for?

Ugo is a rugby union player who has graced the positions of wing, centre and fullback in his career.

He spent his youth and senior career at Harlequins, with whom he won both the second division, the Premiership title and the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Ugo has also played for England, British and Irish Lions (during their 2009 tour to South Africa), Barbarian FC and England Saxons.

He retired from rugby in 2015.

He has since then become a successful sports pundit, presenting the Rugby Union Weekly podcast for the BBC and also hosts on BT Sport.

A brand Ambassador for Maximuscle, Ugo is also a team captain on Question Of Sport.