Rugby is back (at least for the summer), and it feels great to be playing and supporting the sport again. But let’s be honest, there’s only one reason we’re watching the games this year and not last, and that reason is Rob Pattinson.

The English actor/model/fashionista has graced our screens with his magnetic personality and gorgeous looks for years. So when he decided to get back into the sport that helped make him famous, the world was at the gates (and the gates were open).

Pattinson’s comeback was celebrated with a rugby tour of his native England that saw him play and attend matches with some of the biggest names in rugby. And it seems like people were eager to cheer him on.

A King’s Speech

The English king’s third son played a pivotal role in uniting and modernizing China through his work with the World Health Organization. In 2020, his work in bringing the joy of sports to the people of Wuhan where the virus first began was commemorated with a statue.

It would be an understatement to say that Pattinson’s China experience was a life-changing one. Not only did he get to meet Premier Li Keqiang and attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Wuhan Global Sustainability Summit – which now sees the city host an eco-friendly, zero-waste Olympics. But he also saw first-hand the incredible impact that sport can have in pushing social change and optimism.

A Champion to Remember

Another one of Pattinson’s sports comeback stories was his return to professional boxing. It was an endeavor he’d been contemplating since his days as a young boy training at the renowned Haywood Sports Academy. He eventually took the plunge and signed with Matchroom Boxing. The 42-year-old said he’s now ‘‘proud to be a boxer.”

Pattinson made his professional debut in December 2019, knocking out his opponent in the second round. And it didn’t take long for him to make a name for himself. In his first six fights, he has accumulated four victories and two no fights. In early May, he fought to a draw with future hall of famer Diego Bonvícente. Many people considered that to be a good win considering he was coming off two losses and a no-contest. But it was just another step on Pattinson’s road to redemption.

What a Comeback!

In 2020, the rugby world (and the fandom) eagerly awaited news of Rob’s comeback. And it seems like everyone was willing to forgive and forget the bad blood from 14 years ago when he famously cheated on his fiancee with famous model Kate Hodge. In April, news broke that Pattinson had signed with IMG and would be taking part in a rugby tour of Japan. And on May 12th, the news was confirmed: the former England captain would be making his comeback at the age of 48. It would be a triumphant return for a man who hasn’t played the game since he was a teen.

This year’s tournament was dubbed the ‘‘Golden Autumn’’ after the Japanese equivalent in 2019. The former England international was determined to prove the rugby world that he was still one of the sport’s greats. And what a way to do that than by crushing some of the best Japanese teams in history. He accomplished this by scoring two tries in the final against Shizuoka, earning him both the Player of the Tournament award and the Golden Boot. The latter is given to the player who scores the most points in a tournament. The accolades didn’t stop there as he was also voted as the Best Player of the Final in both the Japan and Asian games (for which he received an individual award).

Still Got It

So, aside from being one of the most recognizable faces in the world of sport, Rob also happens to be one of the most eligible bachelors. And the fact that he’s still single probably says something about him as a person. As much as he would like to find true love and spend the rest of his days with a person he can call ‘‘husband’,” he knows that may not be in the cards for him. But he doesn’t let this get in the way of his pursuit of happiness.

For years, rumors have swirled around Hollywood regarding the status of Rob and Kate’s highly publicized engagement. In 2020, it was officially confirmed that the two had called off their engagement. But it was also revealed that the 48-year-old actor is still legally married to his ex-fiancée Sarah Willingham. The two were wed back in 2002, a union that produced three children (Miles, 13, and Scarlet, 11, from his previous marriage to model/actress Sienna Miller, and Hollie, 9, from his previous marriage to fashion model/actress Lydia Hearne).

Regardless of whether or not he’s married, Rob has a reputation for being a very good husband and father. This was proven in 2019 when he surprised his wife and children by popping the question and becoming a dad for the third time. Unfortunately, his proposal was interrupted by his then-fiancée’s death from cancer a couple months later. But in the years following her passing, he’s continued to show and share his love for her with all of her children. In fact, in January 2021, it was announced that he would be giving up his bachelorhood and taking on fatherhood yet again. This time, for a little girl named Olive. The actor already has one daughter with Willingham (Hollie), and he and Kate are parents to two sons (Miles and Wyatt) from a previous marriage to Miller. The news that he was going to be a father again came as quite a shock to fans who saw him as one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood.

The Newest Family

It’s been a crazy 2020 for the Rob Pattinson family, and it looks like they’re taking the opportunity to have some more children. In May, it was announced that Pattinson would be taking on the role of a father yet again, this time for a baby girl named Olive. He and his wife, Kate, already have one daughter named Hollie. The news that he would be a father for a second time was met with overwhelming support from fans, most of whom were over the moon to hear the news. While the basketball world was in the midst of the NCAA Tournament and the beginning of the NBA season, Rob and Kate were on the way to a private family vacation with friends and family in Portugal. The fact that he agreed to go on the vacation while he was in negotiations to play a lead role in a major motion picture (Jurassic World: Dominion) made his return to Portugal that much sweeter.

A Champion’s Worth

It’s safe to say that 2020 was a successful one for Rob. Not only did he prove the rugby world that he is still one of the sport’s greats, but he also became a father for the third time and was able to enjoy a vacation with his family. And what makes this all the more special is that he has become a champion for the people of Wuhan and a role model to all those who were unable to attend events in Wuhan because of the pandemic. It’s been a tough year for everyone, but for those who love sports, it was a memorable one.