Rugby league player Joe Westerman has married Alison Hopkinson, the ex-wife of a close friend, following a highly publicized personal scandal. Westerman, 36, a player for the Castleford Tigers and former England international, tied the knot with Hopkinson, an estate agent, in a ceremony held on Monday in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

The marriage comes after Westerman’s previous relationship ended amid controversy. In 2023, a video surfaced showing Westerman engaged in a sexual act with a woman in an alleyway behind a Greggs bakery in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. The woman in the video is believed to be a friend of Westerman’s then-wife, Lauren Boyd, 38. The scandal received widespread attention, leading to the couple’s separation. Boyd described the incident as “disgusting.”

Following the split, Westerman began a relationship with Hopkinson. The rugby star, who is a father of three, shared images from the wedding on social media, describing the occasion as “a day we will never forget.” Meanwhile, Lauren Boyd recently remarried, tying the knot with Karl Holmes, a 38-year-old HGV mechanic, just weeks prior.

Westerman's personal life has been under intense public scrutiny since the video’s release, reflecting the challenges faced by high-profile athletes in managing their private affairs amid media exposure. The latest developments mark a new chapter in his personal life after a turbulent period.