The NRL Auckland Nines have been using New Zealand rugby star Aaron Smith's partner to promote their new "singles zone" in the upcoming tournament.
The image of Teagan Voykovich, cheering at a game alongside a friend in matching outfits, has been used by event organisers on Twitter among other platforms alongside the slogan: "Single and ready to mingle? Join the Singles Zone at the NRL Auckland Nines."
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Aaron Smith apologies for '€˜toilet tryst'
The All Blacks player has made an emotional apology for allegedly having sex with a woman in an airport bathroom. Vision: TVNZ
But event organisers said any reference to Voykovich's relationship status was "completely a coincidence", and the picture was selected on aesthetic merits alone.
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Single and ready to mingle? Join the Singles Zone at the @NRLAKL9s, Sat 4 & Sun 5 Feb > https://t.co/7i5UyUg3yA#NRLAKL9s #NinesSingleZone pic.twitter.com/iEVxQbYBJo
— NRL Auckland Nines (@NRLAKL9s) January 16, 2017
When quizzed about the choice of promotional picture, NRL Nines general manager Trina Tamati said: "She's a very attractive lady, they're both very attractive ladies, so that's why the image was selected".
"We have about six photos that have been randomly selected and are used for a number of marketing campaigns over the last two or three years. That one has actually been used before and then got used again."
"It is a condition of patrons attending games that their images may be used for promotional purposes," Tamati explained.
She said she didn't even realise it was Smith's partner until it was pointed out to her on Thursday.
"I wouldn't actually know Teagan if I fell over her in the street - with all due respect.
"I don't even know if she's single, I have no idea what the story is there, but we are going to stop using that image, just out of respect."
"Unless she gives us a call and says she wants to be in the zone, in which that will be a different story all together," Tamati joked.
It comes after the NRL Auckland Nines announced earlier in the week that they have created a "singles zone" at the annual rugby league tournament, which will be held at Eden Park on February 4-5.
"It's actually gone a little bit nuts though. It's been a bit of a shock but the reaction to it has been good and bad, but we've sold nearly a third of the seats that are available in it, so you could say there has been quite a bit of interest."
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