The accomplished couple’s children are following in their footsteps
Former Ireland player Simon Zebo have four beautiful children together, Jacob, Sofia, Noah and Isabella and the proud parents have given an insight to their busy family life.
Simon retired from the sport last year, but his schedule is now arguably even more packed thanks to his whiskey brand, Black Emerald, and his work as a pundit with Premier Sports. Meanwhile, Elvira works as a model and owns her own skincare business, Sofia Juliette Paris.
With two such aspirational parents, it’s no doubt the kids have taken after them when it comes to their interests and talents.
“Jacob keeps asking me everyday, ‘Do you think I can play for Munster when I’m 16?'” Elvira told RSVP Magazine. “He definitely follows after his father. Noah is still pretty young, he loves all sorts of sports. Jacob loves other sports as well but his main focus is rugby, and Sofia loves rugby as well. She’s nine and she plays with the under-11 boys because she’s so good.
“She’s following Simon’s footsteps but she loves singing as well, and she and Noah recently started singing lessons because he loves it too. Everyday the house is like a theatre with singing and dancing and performing! Isabella loves performance too and gymnastics is her thing. It brings so much joy to the house and reminds us too to just enjoy life.”
Despite being an accomplished rugby player, Simon doesn’t mind at all whether any of the kids go on to follow in his footsteps professionally.
Simon, Elvira and their children Jacob, Sofia, Noah and Isabella
“I wouldn’t be pushed at all about them playing to the highest level,” he said. “If that’s what they wanted to do, then by all means I’d be the most supportive and proud dad.
“But whatever they want to do, I’d be far happier for them doing whatever that is, whether it’s music or go to college or set up a business. They don’t have to do the same as dad at all. They’re multitalented and all of them have amazing abilities of whatever they put their hand to and no doubt they’ll give whatever they want to do a good crack.”
The kids are at that age where their schedules are full on, which means it’s been great for Simon to be at home more since he retired from rugby.
“The older ones, Jacob and Sofia, their sport is getting quite competitive now and they’re taking training a little bit more seriously and they’re getting a bit more freedom than the younger two,” said Simon. “Having Isabella, she’s three years old and she’s still our baby, we’re clutching onto that baby stage! Noah is growing into a fine young boy as well, following after his brother and he’s bouncing between playing with Isabella and Sofia and his own friends.
“They’ve all got different things going on but they’re all super happy, they have great craic together; tearing the limbs out of one another one minute and inseparable the next.”
Elvira added: “Being able to have him around makes life easier for me and the kids. I think it’s really important for kids to grow up with both parents, not having one away all the time. The kids are more settled and happier all the time, versus before.
“I love having him around. We’re able to drop the kids to school together and collect them. Those are the memories you remember as a child. Being present physically is very important and being able to help with the homework and little things like that.”
It’s a difficult balancing act with family life when both Elvira and Simon work full-on jobs. However, they have perfected the art of getting everything done.
“Whatever needs getting done, both of us are usually in close proximity so one can go and do whatever needs to be done,” Simon said. “Generally our mornings and lunches would be quite full on work-wise, and evening times we try to clock out a bit earlier than if we were doing a nine-to-five so we have time to go watch the kids train or play or go to the park or have food together all of us as a family.
“That’s quite important for us. I think we have a good blend and a good balance, in that we can be quite flexible but at the same time when things need getting done we are both in support of each other to get it done. It’s a good old system we have and we’re enjoying it at the moment; the freedom and flexibility.”