How Ronnie O'Sullivan sparked 'secret passion' for snooker in England and Saracens rugby star Ben Earl as he watches Masters
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Published 15/01/2026 at 22:30 GMT
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Ben Earl has a "secret passion" - snooker. The Saracens and England rugby star was in attendance as Judd Trump and Mark Allen went head-to-head in the 2026 Johnstone's Paint Masters quarter-finals. Speaking to TNT Sports, Earl revealed that watching a Ronnie O'Sullivan documentary engendered a "love" for the sport and has led to regular battles on the baize with England team-mate Ellis Genge.
Earl on the Masters, 'refreshing' O'Sullivan, and battling Genge on the baize
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ben Earl has revealed that he and his England rugby team-mates have a "secret passion" for snooker, with the Saracens star taking a trip to the Alexandra Palace to catch a glimpse of the 2026 Johnstone's Paint Masters.
The 28-year-old was in the crowd as Judd Trump and Mark Allen crossed swords in north London, but Earl said that his love for the sport was first sparked by the absent Ronnie O'Sullivan.
As a fellow elite athlete, Earl says he found it "refreshing" to see O'Sullivan's mental health struggles laid candidly bare on screen.
"The Ronnie documentary really got me into it [snooker]. It's refreshing when someone like him has wobbles and self-doubt," Earl told TNT Sports.
"It's something you really resonate with as a sportsman. It's comforting to see that arguably the greatest of all time has had doubts in himself. It's just another facet to this great sport."
Earl divulged that some of his fellow internationals were present for the end of the first round of the Masters on Wednesday, including Bristol Bears prop Ellis Genge, who is Earl's regular sparring partner on the baize.
Earl and Genge play "one or two frames a day" while on England duty, though their highest breaks are 19 and 20-25 respectively.
"It's almost therapeutic, watching the balls go nowhere near the pockets," joked Earl. "I just love it. I love the technical aspects. I love thinking about four shots ahead. Well, those guys do. I'm just thinking about the next one.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"The boys love it. It's like a secret passion. It's one of these sports that you're never going to beat and I think there's something about a sportsman there that you want to scratch that itch.
"I would say it's like my therapy after training. I'm either watching it or I'm thinking about it or I'm practising.
"I'd say it's the hardest sport I've ever played by a country mile. I'm a big golf fan myself, but this is way harder. But I love it. I'm thinking about it all the time, watching Hendry's Cue Tips, watching all the greats on that. It's great and a big passion of mine."
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On Earl's bucket list is a trip to the Crucible to witness the World Championship live, and he has already ticked off the Masters at Alexandra Palace, a venue he called "one of the best places" for those competing at the top of the game.
"I love the atmosphere. When I saw the draw and we saw who we were going to be watching, we were buzzing," said Earl.
"That table has never looked bigger when you're standing next to it. Being here in the Ally Pally, like everyone says, it's one of the best places to play as a snooker player and just to be there and be a part of that is great."
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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