This article originally appeared on Stuff and is reproduced with permission
A Canterbury club rugby captain pulled a romantic victory from the jaws of a defeat against local rivals when he faked an injury to ask the team’s physio for her hand in marriage. (The physio was his girlfriend.)
Jayden Young, captain of Woodend’s division two team, put his plan into action around the 70th minute of the game against Ashley.
He didn’t tell his teammates, fearing they couldn’t keep the secret, but his coach and waterboy were in on it.
Watch all the action from the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand
Jayden Young and Estelle Taylor. Stuff
At the coin toss, he filled in the ref and opposing captain and told them he would fake an injury to propose to Estelle Taylor, the team’s physio and manager and his long-time girlfriend.
“They had a wee laugh and sort of shook their heads like ‘bloody hell, it’s footy mate, but it’s all goods’,” he told Stuff.
When he dropped to the ground for his heartfelt Hollywood moment and then pulled out the ring, the crowd erupted.
READ MORE: Operation get Cheika back: how rugby can stop NRL swoop
READ MORE: ‘Best since Bradman’ steals insane 99-year-old record
READ MORE: ‘Didn’t look good’: Dogs deny rift after sheds video leaked
Jayden Young and Estelle Taylor. Stuff
“It was awesome,” Young said.
Taylor said she knew a proposal was coming one day from Young but was shocked by how his plan came together.
He told her that his family was coming to watch him play and when he was too nervous to eat a proper breakfast that morning she took his nerves for pre-game anxiety.
NEW PODCAST! Inside Line break down reports of a shock new Wallabies skipper and where serial winner Michael Cheika could fit in Australian rugby moving forward
Taylor, who played in Woodend’s inaugural women’s team last season, said she was confused on how her man became injured when she saw him go down.
“The first thing I said was, ‘where are you actually hurt?'”
She told Stuff that he had apparently not got deep enough into his plan to concoct a specific injury.
“He hadn’t thought that far ahead… So he’s lying there in the grass and he like ‘ah, um, my leg.”
So she pulled out the magic spray and started at the top of his thigh before he propped himself up on one knee and popped the question.
“She’s crazy about footy and I thought what better way than have a footy-themed proposal,” Young said about his betrothed.
A New Zealand club rugby captain faked an injury to ask the team’s physio for her hand in marriage. Stuff
Young said he was expected to always play the full 80 minutes but had arranged with his coach to go off the field after the proposal.
It didn’t go to plan.
Young started to walk towards his coach so he could celebrate with Taylor.
“I looked at him, gave him a thumbs up, and he shook his head and said, no, no, 80 minutes.
“And I was like, ‘you dog’,” Young said with a laugh.
But love found a way and the plucky halfback managed to find himself mysteriously injured just in front of Ashley’s bench five minutes later, leaving the field with his opponents’ approval.
He said the happy couple planned a traditional ceremony but might have an engagement party at the rugby club.
Young was hesitant to disclose the game’s result (Ashley won 59-8) but he did bag his team’s only try.
So who was the real winner on the day?
“Oh me,” Young told Stuff.
“And the missus.”
