- Wedding took place earlier this month
Wests Tigers premiership winner Pat Richards has shocked footy fans by attending the lavish surprise wedding of UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
The former UFC featherweight and lightweight world champion married his long-time partner Dee Devlin earlier this month at the Vatican.
The incredible ceremony took place at the Chiesa di Santo Stefano degli Abissini within the famous city-state and was attended by more than 150 guests.
Both of Richards’ parents hail from Dublin, and it has been reported that he has a family connection with McGregor.
The Irishman was seen spending time with the NRL great in an Instagram post shortly after Christmas Day in 2022 as the sportsmen enjoyed a beer.
The Wests Tigers legend has since taken to social media to send his best wishes to the happy couple.
Pat Richards (right) is pictured alongside Conor McGregor at the former UFC world champion’s wedding earlier this month
The Wests Tigers legend attended the ceremony with his wife Kim (pictured)
McGregor and his wife Dee Devlin are pictured sharing their first dance in front of 150 guests
‘Incredible family wedding. Congratulations Conor and Dee,’ his Instagram post with numerous photos taking in the occasion was captioned.
Details of the event have largely been kept under wraps.
Shortly after the wedding, the couple was seen being driven through Rome in a white 1930s Rolls Royce.
The newlyweds were all smiles as they were whisked through the streets, with Conor sporting a black tux, waistcoat and bow tie.
Meanwhile, Devlin – who shares four children with the fighter – opted for a white lace dress accompanied by small diamond earrings and an updo hairstyle.
Richards is most famous for scoring one of the NRL’s most famous tries in the 2005 grand final.
He was on the end of Benji Marshall’s magic flick pass in the 35th minute of the 30-16 win over the Cowboys, with the vision used in promos for the competition many times.
The 43-year-old played 119 NRL games, scoring 66 tries as he started out with Parramatta before switching to Wests, where he played in 2004, 2005, 2014 and 2015.
McGregor and Devlin (pictured at their wedding) have been together since 2008
Richards (pictured playing for the Tigers in 2005) is seen as one of the joint venture’s best ever players
Richards also enjoyed a successful career in Super League, where he played 244 games for the Wigan Warriors from 2006 to 2013.
The towering winger – who was renowned for his long dropout kicks – scored 167 tries for the English side and landed 2468 goals.
McGregor sent congratulations to the Warriors when it was revealed they’d play a match at the NRL’s first season-opening matches in Las Vegas in 2024, with the clip also featured on Richards’ Instagram.
Richards’ son Aidan is a centre who played centre for the Macarthur Wests Tigers.