New Zealand’s first openly gay All Black Campbell Johnstone has wed his partner, and former colleague Richie McCaw was on hand to help make the day a dream come true.
The retired player married his partner Ben Thomson in a low-key ceremony last week.
In 2013, same-sex marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples were legalised in New Zealand. A decade later, Johnstone came out as gay in a groundbreaking interview with Seven Sharp TV.
FIRST GAY ALL BLACK WEDS
In an Instagram post, former All Black Campbell Johnstone shared a look at his wedding celebration to partner Ben Thomson.
Although the couple legally wed months before in secret, they invited over 100 guests from around the world to celebrate with them at a picturesque venue last week.
One of the guests was fellow retired All Black Richie McCaw, who helped Johnstone make a grand entrance via helicopter ride.
Johnstone told Woman’s Day:“Richie did this really steep loop around the property, and I lost my stomach a bit.
“Then he landed, and we got out. Our parents congratulated us, people swarmed to take photos, and then the wedding kind of kicked off from there.”
Of their non-traditional wedding, Johnstone added: “We just wanted to do it privately, for ourselves,” explains Ben. “I don’t think I would have got my vows out if it was in front of all those people.”
The couple is hoping to honeymoon in South Africa later this year on a “luxury safari.”
COMING OUT
In 2023, Campbell Johnstone – who made his All Black debut in 2005 – made headlines when he revealed that he was gay.
The now 45-year-old claims he was previously “uncomfortable” with the idea of his sexual orientation being public.
Johnstone claimed that many national team players presented as “manly and strong” and were married to women.
“I pushed that side of me down deeper and deeper. But here I was, not being honest with myself and my teammates”.
He added: “If I can be the first All Black to come out as gay and take away the stigma and pressure surrounding it, then we can be able to help other people.”
OPENLY GAY RUGBY PLAYERS
While Campbell Johnstone may be the All Black’s first openly gay player, several other male professional stars around the world have come out.
They include:
- Australia’s Dan Palmer
- Wales’s Gareth Thomas
- England’s Sam Stanley
SHOULD MORE RUGBY PLAYERS COME OUT LIKE ALL BLACK CAMPBELL JOHNSTONE?
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