It's certainly a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder for Dublin pop star Michele McGrath and her new rugby beau Mark Siddons.

The Assets beauty has finally broken her silence on her romance with the Welsh rugby ace, revealing how their long-distance relationship is keeping the sparks flying between the couple.

Michele has been dating hunky sportsman Mark (24), who is based in Rome, since meeting through mutual friends last summer and says she's completely smitten with her new man.

"I am all loved up," Michele (23) told the Diary. "We're very happy. It's not an issue that we live in different countries.

"I'm so busy that I don't have time to dwell on the distance between us.

"When we're off we just make sure to make the most of our time together, if anything I think it brings you closer together.

Precious

"You don't have time for petty arguments or anything like that. Our time together is precious.

"I was over in Rome to visit him a couple of weeks ago and we had a really fantastic time, we did all the local touristy things.

"And of course he comes over to me as often as possible as well," she added.

And while Michele's other half is well-known on the rugby pitch, the Industry singer is adamant that she won't be taking on the title of a WAG anytime soon.

But the loved-up singer is determined she won't be following in the footsteps of Welsh lass Charlotte Church, whose partner is rugby player, Gavin Henson, by throwing in the towel on her music career to start a family.

The multi-talented brunette says: "We're definitely not into any of that WAG stuff at all."

And Michele revealed: "We're just about to launch our third single, In Your Arms, which has been written by Lee Hutton, who's also in the band."

Earlier this year the group spent time putting their material together at the infamous Grouse Lodge recording studio in Westmeath, where Michael Jackson, McFly and Snow Patrol have all spent time in the past.

And Michele will finally be following through on her dreams of London when she and her band-mates move there in January.

The singer, who previously dabbled in acting, was due to make the move following the end of her romance with former Franklin star, Gavin Edwards, last year, but changed her mind when she landed a spot in James Hyland's new band.

"We'll be be moving over there permanently in the New Year," she explained.

"Of course I will miss Dublin but I'm sure we'll be over and back a lot."