First Openly Gay All Black Marries Two Years After Coming Out

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The 45-year-old, who became the first openly gay player in New Zealand’s rugby history, married his partner Ben Thomson in a stunning ceremony that made headlines for all the right reasons.

The couple shared the joyous news in an exclusive feature with Woman’s Day on 15 January, giving fans a glimpse into their unforgettable celebration.

Helicopters and History: A Grand Entrance
The wedding took place at The Flaxmill in Oxford, New Zealand, and kicked off in dramatic fashion with the newlyweds arriving by helicopter. And this wasn’t just any pilot – the legendary Richie McCaw, Johnstone’s former All Blacks teammate, took the controls.

“Richie did this really steep loop around the property, and I lost my stomach a bit,” Thomson revealed to the magazine. “Then he landed, and we got out. Our parents congratulated us, people swarmed to take photos, then the wedding kind of kicked off from there.”

A Private Moment on a Mountain Top
While the couple’s arrival was a spectacle, the vows themselves were a deeply intimate affair. Eschewing a traditional ceremony, Johnstone and Thomson shared their romantic exchange on top of a mountain at Castle Hill Station.

“We had a day with just the two of us,” said Thomson. “Photographers videoed and photographed us getting ready together in a hotel. Then we went out to Castle Hill Station and held our ceremony on top of a mountain. It was literally just us, the two photographers, and the videographer on that hill… we didn’t even have a celebrant.”

Johnstone echoed the sentiment, explaining: “We also thought it should be a moment just for us. That was really special because we just got to enjoy the day together.”

Campbell Johnstone: A Rugby Trailblazer
Johnstone’s rugby journey is as remarkable as his personal one. A prop by trade, he represented the All Blacks in 2005, earning three Test caps during that season. Known for his strength and technique in the scrum, he also had an illustrious domestic career, playing for Canterbury in the NPC and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

Despite the thrilling action, several players underperformed. Here’s a summary of the eight who struggled, with quotes from the key publications.

Planet Rugby: "Again, didn’t get to do much scrummaging but on the whole was fine. Carried hard when given the chance and got about in defence."

Telegraph: "Probably his quietest performance of the Championship so far. Won an early scrum penalty but then got pinged for sealing off right in front of the posts."

Mail Online: Warned for protesting with referee in the first half after being penalised for sealing off. Added a couple of trademark carries in attack. 

Evening Standard: "Warned by the referee for his reaction to giving away a contentious late first-half penalty as he had too much to say for himself. Not his best day otherwise but useful in the loose."

UCK 4/10: "One last home run-out for the veteran. Will be disappointed with his work rate as his side fell apart shortly after he departed for Conan."

Rugby Pass 5/10: "The mind is willing but the body was struggling to keep up. Fell off Antoine Dupont for France’s first try and looked a yard or two off the pace throughout, although there was no lack of industry, grit or heart from the Munster veteran."

Planet Rugby 5/10: "ucky to get away with a few infringements with some rather kind officiating. But the rub of the green went the other way for a crucial call with many claiming that he attempted to milk a penalty. Again a real weapon at the lineout. It’s not the result the Ireland legend deserved in his final home outing but it wasn’t his best showing either."

Balls 5/10: "Did well in the lineout but game roared past him on a few occasions. Was taken out before the Boudehent try but Angus Gardner opted to ignore."

Wales Online 4/10: "Decent kick for Blair Murray's try, but otherwise his work with the boot was a little aimless. Got left in no-man's land for Darcy Graham's score. Attack much better when he departed."

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Gave Wales a brief early lead from the tee but struggled to give his side the platform they needed during a chastening opening half. Bit too eagerly in one passage of play and left his side badly exposed, resulting in a try."

RUCK 5/10: "He got sold a dummy by his opposite number, Finn Russell which resulted in them crossing over. However, early on, he put in some tremendous contestable kick as Wales looked to get upfield, but like many players in this Player rating, it was below par."

iner 4/10: "Daft, costly ill-discipline. McCarthy’s flagrant pull-back on Ramos led to a yellow card and allowed France into the game through Bielle-Biarrey try. It was a mad moment. Tore into every contact thereafter to make amends but too little too late."

Rugby Pass 5/10: "Disrupted a few opposition mauls and did his job in the engine room with minimal fuss. However, a brainrotting and needless tug on the Thomas Ramos –  that earned him a yellow card and saw France score off the very next play – was what stood out."

Planet Rugby 4/10: "A brainless tackle off the ball cost his team dearly as France made the most of the penalty to score the opening try of the match. At that point, Les Bleus were simply holding on with Ireland dominating and his subsequent yellow card only made matters worse. Pretty quiet thereafter."

Balls.Ie 5/10: "The only forward that was making real ground in the early exchanges. Yellow-carded for a cynical pull on Ramos. Needs to cut out those costly penalties."

Rugby Pass 3.5/10: "Lineout darts were about as accurate as a weather forecast, and getting stepped by Will Stuart was a low point. A tough day he’ll want to forget."

Balls.IE 3/10: "Sent back to Kildare on one early carry. Pinged a penalty off the posts from 40-metres out, but still right in front. Snatched a kick-through and beat Penaud for a line-break. Foolishly kicked a mark ball straight to Ramos. Then stepped up and nailed a penalty from halfway, and split the posts with a touchline conversion. Spilled the ball forward when he was scragged to the ground. Was getting bounced back on carries, all day. Was picked off by Ramos before that late Penaud try."

Planet Rugby 3/10: "After a rather strong first half, including two penalties to keep Ireland in touching distance, the young fly-half had a stinker of a second half. He made multiple soft errors, was driven backwards when he carried to the line and frankly, his errors were incredibly costly for Ireland at pivotal moments. The talent is certainly there but today was just not his day. Picked off right at the death too and France pounced. A real mare."

Wales Online 2/10: "Daft, daft yellow card - even if Jac Morgan was insistent there was a blatant Scottish knock-on beforehand. Regardless of the knock-on, maybe the most brainless thing in a Welsh jersey since Alun Wyn Jones' trip at Twickenham in 2010.

"Well, most brainless until Scotland's fourth try. One knock-on after his return from the bin."

RUCK 3/10: "He was active around the pitch, but what let him down was a silly yellow card, which added unnecessary pressure onto his side as the hosts were in the red zone."

Rugby Pass 3/10: "The Sale prop’s effort cannot be faulted, having completed 13 tackles in less than 40 minutes’ worth of action, but like a number of his teammates this was a reversion to the mean following his exploits in round three. Was shown a yellow card with 10 minutes to go of the first half and was replaced early in the second."

Irish Examiner 5/10: "Bloodied again but didn’t bow. An early boot to the face left Aki on familiar terrain, in the wars and primed for battle. Aki was in the thick of everything but the ferocious physical contest saw him make way early in the second half."

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Took an accidental boot to the face early but recovered well. Had precious little opportunity in the first half to make an impact on the French defensive line, spending the most part of his afternoon tackling blue jerseys."

Planet Rugby 4/10: "A bright start from the powerhouse centre but he petered out as the game went on and was subsequently replaced in the final quarter. Perhaps Ireland’s choice not to go with a 5-3 split was costly as Aki was never going to go the distance."

Think you know your England rugby legends? Test your knowledge by naming the seven men who have earned 100 or more caps for the Red Rose. You’ve got three minutes, and surnames only will do. Ready? Go!