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Vegas 'trip of a lifetime' for fans set to marry

Jenny Coleman
BBC News, Liverpool
Ged Upham Ged has short grey hair and is wearing dark rimmed glasses and a blue jacket with a blue and yellow Warrington Wolves scarf. Jean has long blonde hair and is wearing dark rimmed glasses and a wooly blue hat with a white bobble. They are stood at a stand full of Warrington Wolves fans.Ged Upham
Ged and Jean said the trip would be "a holiday of a lifetime"

A couple who were forced to cancel their Las Vegas wedding plans five years ago due to the coronavirus pandemic will finally tie the knot this weekend thanks to a Rugby Super League fixture.

Warrington Wolves fans Ged Upham and his partner Jean, both 65, said they were three weeks away from their dream wedding in 2020 "when the world stopped".

"We just didn't know what was going to happen, so we spent the money on a new kitchen instead," Ged said.

The couple, from Runcorn, said they put it out of their mind and had decided to marry in a registry office in the UK - until the Wigan v Warrington fixture in Las Vegas was announced.

Ged Upton Ged is wearing a white t-shirt with Warrington Wolves wolf illustration on it. Jean is wearing a blue t-shirt and a blue Warrington Wolves jacket and a gold pendant necklace.Ged Upton
Ged and Jean flew to Vegas on Friday afternoon ahead of the game

"That was the catalyst," Ged said.

"That was the thing that swung us to say 'let's resurrect the Vegas trip'.

"We aren't getting any younger, let's do it."

The couple, who flew out on Friday will watch the game on Saturday before their big day on Sunday.

"It's very exciting," Jean said. "We've never been to Vegas before so we are really looking forward to it."

The couple will be joined by Jean's daughter Katy, her sister Joanne, and her brother-in-law Matt.

Ged Upton Ged has short grey hair and is wearing dark rimmed glasses and a blue jacket with a blue t-shirt. Jean has long blonde hair and is wearing sunglasses and a Warrington Wolves top and jacket. They are sat in a stand of blue seats with other rugby league fans sat behind them.Ged Upton
The couple's plans to marry Vegas in 2020 were cancelled when Covid hit

They will also be joined by fellow season ticket holders Steve and Julie who became friends after 15 years sitting together in the stands at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

After the wedding, the new Mr and Mrs Upton will embark on a ten day road trip along the California coast and take in sights of Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco.

"It will be the holiday of a lifetime," Ged said.

"It's all been a bit of whirlwind planning it all after we decided to just do it," Jean said. "We can't wait".

Wigan Warriors will play their home Super League game against Warrington Wolves at the Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, as part of Rugby League Las Vegas, an event organised by Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) to showcase the sport.

Kick-off is at 21:30 GMT and commentary will be live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds from 21:15 GMT.

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