Fans of the film franchise will know him for his mischievous ways and cunning pranks but now that he’s all grown up, his real-life character is ready for some real business
He’s stepped away from acting and into a whole new world (Image: Murray Close)
It has been 15 years since he last graced our screens as a member of the beloved Weasley family, and now he’s ready to take on a whole new challenge – one fans might not have expected.
The actor Oliver Phelps, best known for playing George Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise alongside his twin brother James, seems to have bid farewell to acting and taken on an entirely new business venture. Instead, he’s walking into the world of sports, and not just any sport but rugby.
No, he’s not a player but instead a part-owner of a new rugby team known as Atlantic Novas, after investing in the newly launched Ultimate Sevens Championship.
Dubbed rugby’s answer to The Hundred, Ultimate Sevens debuted in Cardiff, with Phelps proudly watching from the touchline after taking a stake in the Atlantic Novas team. The team features a host of Olympic stars from across the world.
Since stepping away from the limelight, the now 40-year-old has gained himself a wife, Katy Humpage, who he married in 2015. Together they now share two daughters named Autumn and Emilia.
While the Harry Potter star has made numerous cameos in films since his Blockbuster success, his time has mostly been spent elsewhere in hosting, specifically alongside his brother for their hit podcast.
The two have been practically inseparable since birth, as they both rose to fame in the early 2000’s after skipping school for an open audition in Leeds. Six auditions later, they were a part of the cast of Harry Potter, which would go on to change their lives forever.
Although, this seems to be the first work-related venture Oliver has done without his brother by his side.
The actor was introduced to the sport by his Gloucester-born father around as a child, and he and his brother soon became die-hard fans of Gloucester Rugby. The pair are regular attendees at Kingsholm Stadium and often frequent the Hair Lane chip shop in the city before games.
After his daughter started playing rugby at a grassroots level, he began to coach her and her team, but that wasn’t quite enough for him.
His new venture into rugby has already got off to a winning start, with Atlantic Novas lifting the women’s trophy during the competition’s opening weekend in Cardiff.
After cheering his side to victory at Cardiff Arms Park, he said: “I’m a big rugby fan, so I couldn’t wait to get involved in Ultimate Sevens.
“The game is fast-paced, and I love the innovations that Ultimate Sevens have brought to the sport. Ultimate Sevens is so accessible. I’m getting involved as it has huge potential for growth globally, especially in the run-up to the LA Olympics.
“I also like the way Ultimate Sevens have ensured that the men’s and women’s teams are on an equal footing – my daughter has started playing, and I’m coaching her at the grassroots level.”
Outside of his club, Oliver has collaborated on a number of pieces of English rugby content, including visiting the England Women’s training camp and filming some features, one of which involved sorting players into Hogwarts houses.
It feels as though this venture is something that the actor has been pointing towards his whole life, as a fan of the sport, and so it’s only a natural business endeavour for him.
