Newlyweds Monica and Brendan Bartlett of Wellington with the ticket that won them seats for the Rugby World Cup final. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Newlyweds Monica and Brendan Bartlett of Wellington with the ticket that won them seats for the Rugby World Cup final. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Newlyweds Brendan and Monica Bartlett became the envy of New Zealand rugby fans yesterday when they were presented with two tickets to the Rugby World Cup final.
The Wellington couple, who were married 14 days ago, were "blown away" when they realised they had won a competition to see thematch.
They had just returned from honeymooning at Waihi Beach, recovering from their big day in the wedding spotlight..
"We found ourselves back in the spotlight," Mr Bartlett told the Herald.
He said he was still trying to calm down, and colleagues were shooting him envious looks.
"I still can't believe it. It doesn't get much better than this," he said.
Mr Bartlett describes himself as a "rugby nut", and his wife is a New Zealand touch representative.
He hoped to get as many tickets as he could to games close to home in Wellington, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay.
He said all things going to plan, the couple would have a child or two by the time the final, at Eden Park on October 23, 2011, came around, so they might have to start thinking about a babysitter.
His wife was also a big rugby fan, and not even a crowbar would prise the ticket from her hand.
The tickets, a prize in a Heineken-sponsored competition, were presented to the pair at Wellington's Westpac Stadium yesterday. Heineken New Zealand managing director Brian Blake said the company was keen to get New Zealanders into the stadium for the final, and would provide more opportunities to score tickets in the remaining 905 days before the final.
