Phoebe Burgess has not been on a single date in the seven years since her divorce from former NRL player Sam Burgess, revealing the realities of re-entering the personal sphere as a mother of two.
Why Phoebe Burgess Has Remained Single For Seven Years
Speaking on the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About on September 28, 2026, the 37-year-old opened up about why dating apps hold no appeal for her. Burgess shares two children with her ex-husband—daughter Poppy, nine, and son Billy, seven—and noted that her custody schedule leaves her with no weekends off.
“My life isn’t overly app attractive,” Burgess told podcast host Sarrah Le Marquand. “What photo would I pick? The kids and me at school drop-off? Me at an event? There’s not one photo.” She added that her bio would read: “37, divorced, everyone knows about it. Uh, two children. I don’t get weekends off – ever – so you’ll have to work around that. And I live at home. There’s nothing appealing in that.” Following her split, Burgess stated that her “safe place” remains with her children.
Managing Public Scrutiny and Ex-Husband's New Family
Sam Burgess has since relocated to England as a coach, remarried Lucy, welcomed two children, and has a third child on the way. Phoebe Burgess admitted to frustrations regarding how their names remain tied in the headlines, but emphasized a desire to celebrate new life.
“It was irritating that our lives and names would be intrinsically woven together for all of eternity, it feels like sometimes,” Burgess said on the podcast. Regarding her ex-husband’s growing family, she added: “With anyone who is bringing new life into the world, you celebrate it. If we’re told about it or it comes up in the kids’ lives, the only thing you can do is be deeply happy for someone.”
Parallels Drawn To Recent High Profile Splits
During the interview, Burgess addressed the public media attention surrounding other high-profile athlete separations, including the marriage split between AFL player Lachie Neale and his wife Jules. She noted a societal knee-jerk reaction to wonder how she feels whenever a similar situation occurs.
“When it is scrutinised and laid out for the whole world to see, to enjoy, to be entertained by and to judge, that’s a different beast,” Burgess said. She also highlighted similarities in Jules being questioned about keeping her married name. Burgess explained that she deliberately chose to keep her married surname so she would share a last name with her children through a period of fundamental, earth-shattering change.
Returning To The Spotlight With A New Podcast
After maintaining a low profile for several years to protect her children, Burgess is preparing to step back into the spotlight. She is launching a new podcast co-hosted by Below Deck: Mediterranean star Hannah Ferrier.
“I’ve been so rigid in keeping some things in place because I was wanting to protect [the kids],” Burgess said. “And it’s not control. It’s to make sure that what was important was set up and safe before going off and doing something new and exciting for myself. I think that’s good. Mummy’s off to work. It’s healthy for them. I think they need to see my tail lights every now and then.”
Common Questions About Phoebe Burgess
Why hasn’t Phoebe Burgess dated since her divorce?
Burgess stated that her schedule as a full-time mother with no weekend custody breaks, combined with a lack of appeal for dating apps, has kept her from dating over the past seven years.
How many children does Phoebe Burgess share with Sam Burgess?
They share two children: a nine-year-old daughter named Poppy and a seven-year-old son named Billy.
What is Phoebe Burgess’s new project?
Burgess is launching a new podcast alongside Below Deck: Mediterranean star Hannah Ferrier.
Why did Phoebe Burgess keep her married surname?
She chose to keep her married last name so that she and her children would share the same surname during a time of major family transition.
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