The Princess of Wales spent the day in Hull for Rugby League Inclusivity Day, partaking in various training exercises before joining the World Cup championships for a scrimmage of wheelchair rugby.
Catherine, whose fingers were still bandaged following a trampoline accident a few weeks ago, was said to be nervous before she joined in but quickly forgot the injury and threw herself into the game.
The head coach of England’s Wheelchair Rugby Team, Tom Coyd, said that Catherine’s support “means a huge amount to the team. She’s said to us a few times that she was keen to get in a chair, and she’s been true to her word today—and her conversion was a seriously impressive first effort.”
Coyd revealed after her visit that Catherine and her children enjoyed watching the Rugby World Cup on television and that “the collisions that came through the TV, when they were watching it, was what hooked the kids in.”
Of her skills, Coyd joked that the Princess must have practised before she arrived “because she’s a natural. She even finished a passing move with a try in the corner. She blew me away to be honest.”
Catherine also learned about the Physical Disability Rugby League and the Learning Disability Rugby League, which allows people living with physical or learning disabilities to play versions of the sport. The royal took part in training exercises with some of the teams’ players from the local Hull FC teams.
The Rugby League Inclusivity Day was a joint endeavour by the Rugby Football League, Hull FC and the University of Hull, which hosted the event.
In a statement on the university’s website, Professor Kevin Kerrigan, its Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said, “It has been an amazing morning for those who were able to spend time with Her Royal Highness, showing their skill, dedication and passion for their sport.“
“We’re proud of the positive role our clubs play in their communities, and there is no better example of that than Hull FC and Hull KR in this city where Rugby League is so important. It’s lovely to see that recognised,” said the Rugby Football League’s chief executive, Tony Sutton, in a media release.
Catherine became patron of England Rugby and the Rugby Football League in February 2022.
