Ryan Fox, His Wife Anneke, and Their Rugby-Loving Family

Photo credit: Getty. Ryan Fox of New Zealand embraces his wife, Anneke Fox, after finishing their round on Day Four of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the Old Course St. Andrews on October 02, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland.

A Family Bond Built on Rugby

Ryan Fox is a golfer from New Zealand. His wife, Anneke (sometimes called "Ryff") Fox, shares a special connection with him because they both love rugby — a sport kind of like American football but played mostly by kicking and carrying an egg-shaped ball.

Here’s the fun part:

• Ryan’s dad, Grant Fox, was a huge rugby star for New Zealand’s famous team called the All Blacks (that’s their national rugby team).
• Anneke is also super into rugby.
• As if by magic, Anneke was born in 1987 on the exact same day the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup!

Anneke told The New Zealand Herald back in 2011: “I’m known amongst my friends as the rugby-head, so I guess I’m a bit of a fan. It’s cool sharing the date but obviously it would have been better being able to see [the game].”

Important Point: Anneke’s birthday matches the day New Zealand won the 1987 Rugby World Cup — a weird and cool coincidence!

Ryan Fox & Wife, Anneke, Are the Proud Parents of 2 Kids

The Fox family is still very much a golf family. Ryan, Anneke, and their two kids all showed up together at a fun event called the Masters Par 3 Tournament (a small, friendly golf contest held before the big Masters tournament).

At that event:

• Anneke helped Ryan by being his caddie (the person who carries the golfer’s clubs and gives advice).
• Ryan posted on Instagram to thank his family: “Gotta love the par 3 comp with the family @themasters @annekefox #foxtracker” (posted April 8).

Ryan Fox Is Using Rugby to Distract Him From The Open Championship

Ryan and Anneke have two kids together. On the golf course, Ryan was playing really well — like a hot streak!

Before the final round of a big golf event called The Open Championship, Ryan had a chance to win. To calm his nervous feelings, he did two rugby-related things:

1. He watched a replay of an All Blacks rugby game on TV.
2. He made a small bet with another golfer named Shane Lowry.

Ryan told reporters on July 18: “I’ll watch a fair bit of golf on TV and try to get a replay of the All Blacks game. I watched a decent chunk of that this morning, and I was pretty happy with that result too. I just saw Shane on the screen, and I’m looking forward to taking 100 quid off of him, the little bet we had.”
(Quid is just a fun word for British money — like “dollars.”)

Ryan Fox’s Wife, Anneke, Served as His Caddie at Masters Par 3 Tournament

In 2024, Ryan looked back on how nice it was to share the Masters Par 3 Tournament with his family. The year before (his first Masters appearance), his dad carried his bag instead.

Ryan said to Sky Sports New Zealand in 2024: “It was nice to have dad on the bag last year, but this feels just a little more special. Being able to have the kids walk inside the ropes, and I know all the players talk about it and how cool the experience is. So, I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Callout: “Inside the ropes” just means the kids were allowed in the close, special area where the golfers play — not just watching from far away!

Ryan Fox & Wife Anneke’s Connection to Rugby Is ‘Fate’

Photo credit: Getty. Ryan Fox embraces his wife, Anneke, after their round on October 02, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland.

Anneke’s mom, Robyn Ryff, thinks all these rugby links are “fate” — like the universe planned it.

Robyn told The New Zealand Herald in 2011: “I think it’s fate. There’s just all these weird connections to rugby. She hung on until after we had won the cup – it was quite a memorable night. It was all elation when we won, and then we got a baby girl as well.”

So besides golf, this family stays close because of their shared rugby love.

Summary

Ryan Fox is a golfer whose family is full of rugby love. His wife Anneke was born the day New Zealand won the 1987 Rugby World Cup, and Ryan’s dad was an All Blacks star. They have two kids, Anneke once caddied for Ryan at the Masters Par 3 event, and Ryan used rugby to relax during a big golf tournament. Anneke’s mom calls their rugby ties “fate.”

FAQ

1. Who is Ryan Fox’s wife?
Ryan’s wife is Anneke Fox (also called Ryff). She loves rugby and was born on the day New Zealand won the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

2. Did Anneke help Ryan in a golf tournament?
Yes! She was his caddie at the Masters Par 3 Tournament and walked with him and their kids.

3. Why does the family talk about “fate”?
Because Anneke’s birthday, her marriage to the son of a rugby legend, and their shared love of rugby feel like a planned coincidence.

4. How did Ryan calm down during The Open Championship?
He watched an All Blacks rugby replay and joked about winning a small bet from golfer Shane Lowry.