Speaking to the media Jason Francis has revealed what – in his opinion – we can expect from Ronnie this season

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s snooker plans revealed by manager after relationship bombshell

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s long-time manager, Jason Francis, has issued an update on the Rocket’s plans for the new season following a troubled 2024/25 campaign on and off the table

by Mark Whiley

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s manager has revealed the snooker legend’s plans for the new season as the Rocket enjoys his new life in the Middle East.

The seven-time world champion endured a troubled 2024/25 campaign, which saw him not play competitively between January and April after smashing his cue in anger at the Championship League and withdrawing before his final group match. Armed with a new cue, he made his long-awaited return to action at the World Championship, making the last four, where he was outgunned by eventual champion Zhao Xintong.

Away from the table, the Rocket is sensationally said to have reconciled with actress Laila Rouass following the pair’s break-up nine months ago. The couple are reported to be planning for their new life in Dubai, a two-hour flight from Riyadh.

The Rocket’s manager, Jason Francis, says the 49-year-old has embraced the change of scenery and expects him to play at the Shanghai Masters – a high-profile invitational event, which begins at the end of July – before committing fully to a limited schedule.

“Ronnie’s moved out to the Middle East for a while. You’ll probably see him first in Shanghai. He’s had a little break from the UK,” Francis told the Express.

“You’re talking about someone who can’t go to the shop without being asked for a selfie, a photo. Where he is, he’s finding a life a little bit quieter at the moment.

O’Sullivan and Laila Rouass are reportedly back together(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

“Ronnie’s Ronnie. He’ll decide when he wants to play and everyone knows he can come from nowhere to win a major tournament.

“You won’t see Ronnie play a full schedule [this season] but I think you’ll see him try and properly prepare for the tournaments he plays in.

“Ronnie will be 50 in December, people have to remember that. They still expect him to turn up and win everything.”

O’Sullivan made the semis at the Crucible despite continuing cue issues, which prompted him to make emergency changes between sessions against Zhao. And his performance on the whole certainly impressed his manager.

“Absolutely incredible,” said Francis of O’Sullivan’s showing in Sheffield. “He didn’t even have a cue a few weeks before! But that’s Ronnie for you. He had one bad session [losing all eight frames in the second session].

“I’m not saying he could have beaten Xintong – there was a feeling his name was on the trophy – but apart from one bad session, he was still toe to toe with him.

“I think if he had beaten Xintong, him and Mark Williams would have been an incredible final. But it’s great for snooker to have a Chinese world champion and it’s for World Snooker to exploit that.”

Jason knows Ronnie pretty well, maybe even better than Ronnie knows himself. I trust his opinion. I also agree with him that reaching the semi-finals in Sheffield, losing to the eventual Champion was a remarkable achievement after months away from competition and probably away from practice as well … after all you need a cue to practice 😉 , don’t you? It’s pretty rare to go deep at the Crucible without having the odd bad session. For Ronnie it came in the semi-finals against a really strong player who didn’t give him any opportunity to “recover”.

Also what Jason says about Ronnie being constantly “hassled” by fans is true. I have seen it close up on multiple occasions. One of the strangest and funniest of such occasions was in Sheffield. I was with Ronnie in his car, after an exhibition. The police signalled him to stop and to pull on the side. Ronnie was a bit nonplussed and worried. He had done nothing that could explain why the police would want to stop him. Eventually, after some awkward prevarication and lame excuses it transpired that this patrol just wanted autographs and selfies with him…. and he obliged.