New Zealand: Straight men marry eachother for rugby tickets
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Two straight men have legally married in exchange for rugby tickets, as part of a radio stunt.
Radio station The Edge was responsible for the ‘Love You Man’ stunt, which saw teacher Matt McCormick, 24, marry engineering student Travis McIntos, 23.
The Dundein-based pair legally married in an innuendo-filled ceremony in New Eden Park rugby stadium today.
Sports journalist James McOnie, who hosted the ceremony, joked that the pair would “come together in marriage but not in other ways”.
He added : “It’s just a couple of genuine mates willing to go the full 80. That’s a rugby term, not a position in the karma sutra.”
The station posted: “It’s official folks, Travis and Matt have just said ‘I do’! Congrats to the happy couple! #LoveYouMan”.
The stunt has been derided by gay rights groups, with the Legalise Love campaign saying: “The Edge can dress it up in whatever language they like; the point of this competition is that men marrying each other is still something they think is worth having a laugh at.”
Activist Louisa Wall added that the stunt “is making a mockery of the institution of marriage.”
However, the couple retorted: “We are not here to insult anyone. We are here to do our own thing and travel our own path.
“It’s just seeing how far two good mates would go to win a trip to the Rugby World Cup.”