Wayne Rooney is set to unintentionally breach an I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! regulation as a result of his marriage to his wife, Coleen. The Manchester United legend has been speculated to be among 12 fresh campmates for the 2026 series of the ITV programme, which launches on Monday, November 16.

The 41-year-old would be following his wife's lead, who secured second place in the jungle in 2024. Rooney must complete a psychological assessment before formally entering the competition, and he must also notify the programme's producers of any physical conditions that might restrict him from taking part in specific trials.

Nevertheless, Rooney may struggle to comply with one of the numerous important regulations of I'm A Celeb. Contestants are prohibited from revealing to anyone, including acquaintances who have previously appeared on the programme, that they are joining the Australian jungle until the broadcaster formally announces the news.

Participants are also banned from seeking advice from former contestants, though how ITV can enforce this in practice remains uncertain. That clearly creates a complicated scenario for the England legend to navigate, given Coleen's prior involvement and the fact that they share a home.

Rooney never travelled to the camp while Coleen was there, with the couple's youngest children, Kit and Cass, undertaking the journey Down Under with Coleen's mother, Colette, when relatives were allowed to visit the participants.

This particular rule was thrust into the spotlight in 2022 when actor Danny Miller disclosed that, after winning that year's series, he had sought jungle advice from his former Emmerdale co-star and I'm A Celeb veteran Adam Thomas.

Miller said: "I confided in Adam about me taking part as he is one of my best friends in the world. I feel like I am a step ahead as I've asked him questions about what it will be like."

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One obstacle Rooney will be unable to sidestep is the stringent ban on mobile phones upon entering the jungle.

Any updates on United's latest results during his stint on the programme can only be obtained by triumphing in a Dingo Dollar Challenge.

Rooney will reportedly become the latest in a lengthy line of former footballers to appear on the show, joining the ranks of Ian Wright, Wayne Bridge, Dennis Wise, 2018 winner Harry Redknapp and 2022 queen of the jungle Jill Scott.