Rugby league star Jarryd Hayne has married his long-term partner Amellia Bonnici in a secret ceremony, just a month after announcing their engagement.
Hayne, 32, and Bonnici, 29, the mother of his daughter Beliviah Ivy, 4, tied the knot at Pullman Magenta Shores resort, on the New South Wales Central Coast, on Tuesday.
In the scorching heat on Australia Day the couple’s service was intimate and low key, with a group of roughly 50 family and friends, including fellow NRL stars, attending.
Hayne wore a creme suit, open white shirt and sunglasses, smiling as he stood under a floral archway waiting for his bride.
Bonnici looked elegant in a white dress and with her hair pulled back to show off her pearl earrings.
Rugby league star Jarryd Hayne has married his long-term partner Amellia Bonnici in a secret ceremony at the Pullman Magenta Shores resort in NSW, just a month after getting engaged
After being together for tumultuous five years, Hayne and Bonnici tied the knot in secret
Hayne checks his phone as he and Bonnici sit on the back of a golf cart on their way to have photos taken
The deeply religious Hayne – who is a former Hillsong regular – chose not to have the ceremony in a church, instead saying their vows beneath a white floral archway in the resort garden
Hayne wore a creme suit and open white shirt, smiling as he stood beneath the flower archway waiting for his bride
Bonnici (pictured) looked elegant in a white dress and with her hair pulled back to show off her pearl earrings
The glamorous 29-year-old lifts her dress up as she walks towards the ceremony at the Central Coast resort
Hayne’s father Manoa Thompson (second from left) watches on as his son stands waiting for his bride
The deeply religious Hayne – who is a former Hillsong regular – chose not to have the ceremony in a church, instead saying their vows beneath a white floral archway.
Those in attendance sat on rows of white wooden chairs spread throughout a grass area in between the resort’s villas.
While the ceremony was shielded from public view, there was no relief from the sun, with temperatures soaring into the mid-30s by mid-afternoon.
Hayne’s mother Jodie, his father Manoa Thompson – himself a former NRL star – and his half-sister Evie Thompson all attended.
Also among the crowd was Hayne’s former Parramatta teammate Tim Mannah.
It is understood only a select number of guests were told about the location prior to the Australia Day wedding.
The remainder of those invited were told to meet at a certain location, where a bus collected and took them to the Pullman resort.
The couple’s decision to tie the knot comes after a relationship full of up and downs.
Hayne and Bonnici only announced their engagement on Australia Day, sharing this photo on Instagram
Hayne opted for all white for his special day, wearing chinos and a white suit jacket, with a shirt and white rose
The newlyweds walked away from the ceremony to enjoy a drink, with Bonnici’s bridesmaid helping to lift up the train of her wedding dress
Hayne’s half-sister Evie Thompson (in orange) joined the newlyweds as they headed off to have photos taken
Guests at the ceremony joined in the relaxed theme of the wedding with their bright coloured dresses
It is understood only a select number of guests were told about the location prior to Tuesday, with the rest being taken by bus to the resort
A large stand of flowers is carried into the ceremony on Tuesday afternoon
Hayne and Bonnici met on Instagram in early 2016 and just a few weeks later she was pregnant.
The footy star had just returned from a highly publicised stint with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL signed a $1million-a-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL.
But while Hayne lived it up in the sunshine, Bonnici stayed at home with her family to look after the couple’s daughter.
Hayne was released by the Gold Coast in late-2017 and returned to Parramatta.
In December that year he was accused of sexual assault in the United States, claims he vehemently denied.
Hayne eventually reached a settlement with his accuser in 2019.
Bonnici has stood by Hayne over a tumultuous few years, including throughout a NSW District Court trial for sexual assault last year (Pictured are the pair walking into Newcastle Court)
Bonnici and Hayne met on Instagram and just a few months later welcomed a daughter, Bri
While Bonnici stood by him the controversies continued to come, and on Grand Final Day in 2018 he allegedly he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at her home near Newcastle.
He faced a NSW District Court trial in 2020 during which Bonnici stuck by his side on the way into court each day.
The jury were unable to reach after a two-week trial and were discharged. A new trial will be set for 2021.