Lucy Burgess shares romantic photos from her honeymoon with former NRL player Sam - after his ex-wife Phoebe is urged to drop his surname

Mrs. Lucy Burgess has shared photos of her Italian honeymoon with new husband, former NRL star Sam Burgess , in Rome.

The newlyweds spent five days in the Italian capital after tying the knot in a 17th Century baroque villa, surrounded by friends and family.

Lucy, née Graham, described the one-week honeymoon as 'pure magic'.

In an extensive carousel of intimate photos and video clips shared to social media on Monday, Lucy and Sam are seen playing tourist in the ancient city with their 10-month-old daughter, Robbie.

The loved-up couple wined, dined, walked and shopped their way through 'Roma', and evidently took countless selfies to memorialise the happy memories.

Sam's new wife is a 33-year-old hairdresser and fashion designer from Leeds, England, who he has known since his early teens . The pair share daughter Robbie, who they welcomed in September 2023.

Sam grinned from ear-to-ear as he entertained his new bride and young daughter in the selfies taken at various lavish restaurants, hotel suites, and tourist attractions.

It comes as the star NRL player's ex-wife Phoebe Burgess was urged by columnist Jana Hocking to drop the footy player's surname.

'Let me put it bluntly: it's time to give up the ghost of husbands past,' Hocking wrote in her Daily Mail Australia Mail+ column .

'Yes, I'm talking about your Instagram handle she added, before suggesting keeping the name makes Phoebe seem 'a little hung up on the past when it's clear your ex-husband has long since moved on.'

Sam and his ex wife Phoebe married in 2015, separated in late 2018 and resumed their relationship in early 2019 .

They split permanently on October 2 that year and later divorced.

Phoebe moved to Bowral with her children while Sam was embroiled in a series of legal woes following the breakdown of his marriage.

At the time, he was cleared on appeal of intimidating his former father-in-law, Mitch Hooke.

The influencer was asked about changing her name during a wide-ranging interview with journalist Mia Freedman on the No Filter podcast in 2021.

Phoebe told the Mamamia founder that even though her passport and email still have the surname Hooke, she wants to have the same last name as her children .

'I drop my kids off to school every day, and I've got a big sign on my car that says Burgess, and we are three Burgesses because that's their name, so I deserve to be the same name as my kids,' she said.

Sam was last pictured with his children in October 2022, with the sports star posting a picture of the little ones sitting on his lap in a restaurant.

Phoebe described the decision as 'choosing to be a part of a family unit' and a 'personal preference', regardless of the fact she is now divorced.

'I'm choosing to own it a little bit. This is my story. It's where I've come from,' she said firmly.

'And they were decisions I made with a really full heart at that time. And it's almost like wearing those scars with a bit of pride.'

That decision was thrust back into the spotlight last month when the NRL great re-married.

'Lucy & Sam met at fifteen, they went their separate ways, but fate had different plans,' the caption for their wedding video reads.

The couple's extravagant wedding took place over an entire weekend, that featured a welcome dinner, the wedding itself, a reception, and then poolside recovery party.

Lucy's identity was revealed in 2022 after the retired South Sydney Rabbitohs star took her as his date to the premiere of Russell Crowe's film Poker Face in Rome.

The English-born stunner is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019.

She also used to be a member of British girl group The Ultra Girls, who were featured heavily on The X Factor UK in 2009, and reunited at her wedding reception.

The former Rabbitohs player proposed to Lucy in June last year, just nine months after they went public with their relationship.

He previously revealed he was extremely nervous when he asked the glamorous hairdresser to marry him.

Meanwhile, Phoebe made a rare public appearance at Derby Day held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday.

'Heading in to the most spectacular Birdcage marquee,' she said on her Instagram Stories.

The Birdcage enclosure is a place of unrivalled luxury, where big name sponsors spare no expense to lavish Australian socialites, business people, influencers and minor celebrities with front row seats and amenities at the Melbourne Cup Carnival .

Phoebe wore white, country-inspired frock with puffed sleeves, leg slit and a built in tie-up bow at the front.

The sheer white fabric had lacey detailing and a chic button up décolletage. Phoebe's fans cheekily commented that she looked fabulous in white.