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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Irish rugby star Andrew Porter gets engaged after New Zealand series win

Andrew Porter followed up Ireland's famous Test series win over New Zealand by getting engaged to his long-time partner.

The Ireland and Leinster prop popped the question to Elaine Sutton in Nice on Saturday.

Sharing a snap of the couple on Instagram, Porter simply wrote: "23. 7. 2022 ❤. I love you @elainecsutton."

READ MORE: All Blacks coach Ian Foster to remain in charge despite series loss to Ireland

A delighted Elaine also shared a number of photos, commenting on them: "I get to marry my best friend!!! Easiest yes ever."

A number of Porter's teammates were quick to congratulate the couple.

"Congratulations Big man," wrote Bundee Aki.

"Incredible news!! Congrats guys," added Josh van der Flier.

While Jacob Stockdale said: "Congrats brother!!"

The pair have been dating for four years and recently moved into their own home in Dublin.

Porter shaved his head on The Late Late Show on RTE earlier this year to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society.

The rugby star previously told how Elaine helps to pick him up after a tough day at work.

He told RSVP Magazine: "I like to chill out with my dog and my girlfriend. My girlfriend is the one person that chills me out more than anyone - she gets me."

Meanwhile, Porter avoided further punishment following an incident which left New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick with a fractured cheekbone which occured during the third and final Test between the sides.

He was sin-binned after a nasty clash of heads with Retallick early in the second half of the Irish’s 32-22 win over the All Blacks in the series decider in Wellington.

The 26-year-old was last Monday cited for the incident but the complaint has subsequently been dismissed by an independent judicial committee due to the “absorbing nature of the tackle”.

Although he admitted an act of foul play had been committed, Porter maintained the red card threshold had not been met.

The disciplinary panel concurred that the yellow card issued by English referee Wayne Barnes was correct.

A World Rugby statement read: “Having considered all the evidence, the independent committee applied World Rugby’s Head Contact Process and agreed with the match officials’ on-field decision that the player’s act of foul play did not meet the red card threshold due to the absorbing nature of the tackle.

“On that basis, the independent committee deemed the act of foul play did not merit further sanction, and the citing complaint was dismissed.”

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