Nathan Aspinall: Darts Career, Health & Personal Life

A dartboard can tell you a lot about a person. For Nathan Aspinall, it’s revealed resilience, friendship, and a few late nights at the bar, as the Stockport thrower has navigated injuries, a Premier League snub, and a growing bond with teenage sensation Luke Littler.

PDC World Championship best: Semi-finalist (2019, 2020, 2023) ·
Major titles: 3 (UK Open 2019, US Masters 2019, World Matchplay 2023) ·
Date of birth: 15 July 1991 ·
Nickname: The Asp ·
Current ranking: Top 16 PDC Order of Merit (as of 2025)

Ten key facts about Nathan Aspinall, one pattern: the man behind the arrows is as complex as a 180 finish.

What condition does Nathan Aspinall have?

Details of the medical condition

Aspinall has been open about a recurring nerve issue in his throwing arm, often described as dartitis — a condition that affects a player’s ability to release the dart smoothly. In April 2025, he told The Sun (UK tabloid) that five weeks before his Premier League win he was “really struggling.” He also reported elbow inflammation that forced him to limit practice sessions.

Impact on career and matches

• Missed multiple events in 2023 after the World Matchplay title (Wikipedia)
• Reportedly considered quitting after a particularly bad spell in 2025 (The Sun)
• Told his wife, “I can’t continue like this” amid elbow pain (The Sun)

The implication: Aspinall’s health battle is ongoing, and his ability to maintain a top-16 ranking depends on managing both the physical and psychological sides of dartitis.

Are Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall friends?

Evidence of friendship off the oche

Aspinall has referred to Littler as a “good friend” and says he tries to help the teenager navigate the tour. In an interview with The Sun (UK tabloid), Aspinall said he sees himself as a kind of older brother to Littler. He also noted that many players are jealous of Littler, which he linked to the young star not having many mates on tour.

Social media and public interactions

• They share the same manager, Martin Foulds (The Sun)
• Littler now joins the tour group at the hotel bar, playing cards instead of isolating in his room (TalkSport)
• Aspinall has publicly praised Littler’s attitude and said he “will have a couple of Strongbow Dark Fruits” but is a bit of a lightweight (TalkSport)

What this means: their friendship is genuine but not inseparable — they’re tour mates who look out for each other, with Aspinall playing a mentor-like role.

Who is Nathan Aspinall’s wife?

Relationship timeline and wedding

Aspinall is married to a woman named Rebecca (some sources report the name as Kirsty). The couple have been together for several years and have two children. Wedding details remain private, but Aspinall has referred to his wife in interviews, including a plan to celebrate his Premier League Manchester night by getting “absolutely steaming” with her (The Sun).

Family life

• Two children, names not publicly disclosed (Wikipedia)
• Born in Stockport, England, and supports Rangers FC (Wikipedia)
• His brother is not a public figure (Wikipedia)

The pattern: Aspinall keeps his family life relatively low-key, but his wife has been a key support during his injury struggles.

What has happened to Nathan Aspinall recently?

Premier League snub

Aspinall was not selected for the Premier League Darts 2026 line-up, and he found out via text message (The Sun). He had been a finalist in 2020 and a consistent contender, making the omission a significant blow.

Injury updates and Euro Tour

• Continued competing in Euro Tour events in 2025–2026 (Wikipedia)
• Reported that he was “really struggling” with dartitis five weeks before a Premier League win in April 2025 (The Sun)
• Elbow inflammation has limited his practice time (The Sun)

Who is the biggest drinker in darts?

Drinking culture in professional darts

Darts has a historical link with alcohol — players and fans alike embrace the pub atmosphere. Eric Bristow and Phil Taylor both had reputations for enjoying a drink, but no official title of “biggest drinker” exists. Aspinall himself has been open about his own drinking habits, including a planned celebration after the Premier League night in Manchester (TalkSport).

Famous anecdotes about players

• Aspinall said Littler will have about four pints of Strongbow Dark Fruits and then stop (TalkSport)
• He described Littler as “a bit of a lightweight” because he is only 18 (TalkSport)
• Historically, Eric Bristow was known for heavy drinking, but modern players are more disciplined (Wikipedia)

The trade-off: drinking culture is part of darts’ charm, but it can interfere with performance. Aspinall’s own balancing act between socializing and competition is a microcosm of the sport’s identity.

Timeline: Nathan Aspinall’s career

• 2007–2010 – Junior darts career; won British Internationals and England Youth Tour (Wikipedia)
• 2018 – Won PDC Tour Card, qualified for World Championship last 16 (Wikipedia)
• 2019 – Won UK Open and US Masters; reached World Championship semi-finals (Wikipedia)
• 2020 – Premier League finalist; World Championship semi-finalist again (Wikipedia)
• 2023 – Won World Matchplay; suffered arm injury that forced withdrawal from several events (Wikipedia)
• 2025–2026 – Missed Premier League Darts 2026 selection; continued competing in Euro Tour (The Sun)

The timeline shows a career of highs and lows, with injury and health challenges shaping his recent trajectory.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Nathan Aspinall won the UK Open in 2019 (Wikipedia)
• He has a recurring arm/wrist injury (dartitis) (The Sun)
• He was not selected for Premier League 2026 (The Sun)

What’s unclear

• Exact medical name of his condition (some sources refer to nerve issue, but not fully confirmed) (The Sun)
• Whether he is close friends with Luke Littler (friendly interactions but not deep friendship) (The Sun)
• His exact net worth (media estimates vary) (Wikipedia)
• Marital status and wife’s name (Rebecca or Kirsty) and number of children (conflicting reports) (Wikipedia / Hamariweb)

This clarity breakdown highlights where public information is solid and where gaps remain, especially around his personal life and medical details.

Quotes from the oche

“I was really struggling. Five weeks before that I was in a bad place.”

— Nathan Aspinall, speaking to The Sun (UK tabloid)

“I see myself as a kind of older brother to him. He’s a good friend and I try to help him when it comes to darts.”

— Nathan Aspinall on Luke Littler, via The Sun (UK tabloid)

For Nathan Aspinall, the road ahead is a tightrope between health, friendship, and ambition. The implication: if he can manage his dartitis and regain consistency on the Euro Tour, a Premier League return is far from out of reach. But the clock is ticking, and the darts world is unforgiving. For The Asp, the choice is clear: adapt, or risk fading into the background of a sport that moves fast.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address the most common queries about Aspinall’s personal and professional details, providing quick answers based on published sources.

Related reading

• Randy Orton: Condition, Return, Family & Net Worth and More – Another sports figure who overcame health setbacks.
• John Fury: Boxing Record, Prison Time, Family and Feuds – A parallel story of family, controversy, and drinking culture in combat sports.

These related articles offer additional context on sports figures navigating health and family challenges.