NRL star Clint Newton, and his partner Carly Shelmerdine, welcomed their first child seven weeks ago, and have named their daughter Hope. Although Clint and Carly had chosen the name in advance, it turned out to be meaningful, because Carly had a very difficult labour, and for a while it was uncertain whether either she or the baby would survive. Baby Hope made a full recovery, and is now thriving.

Clint started his rugby league career at the Newcastle Knights in 2000, and since then has played for the Melbourne Storm, the Penrith Panthers, and for Hull Kingston Rovers in the English Super League. He is signed with his original club, the Newcastle Knights, for the 2014 season, and is an ambassador for the White Ribbon campaign against violence towards women. Clint is the son of former professional golfer Jack Newton, and was born in South Carolina while his dad competed in the 1981 US Open. At the height of his professional career, Jack walked into the spinning propeller of an aeroplane he was preparing to board, and lost his right arm and eye, as well as suffering severe internal injuries. Jack made a full recovery, and later survived a bout of meningococcal meningitis, so Hope seems to be continuing a family tradition. Clint’s sister Kristie is also a professional golfer.

Carly is originally from Britain, and she and Clint met in Manchester in 2008. She moved to Australia with Clint in 2011.