Page 5 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

RANDOM LEAGUE

HAS THERE EVER been a more
impressive presentation of a major Rugby
League event than the draw for the 2021 HARRY'S
World Cup?
It could have all gone horribly wrong,
as the ink on the press release revealing
the draw would be hosted by RFL GAME
Patron Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex at
Buckingham Palace had barely had time
to dry before the news broke that he was
following an old Rugby League precedent
and choosing to break away from the
establishment, dispensing with his Royal
duties and heading off to Canada with
his family. We can't help but wonder if he
and Meghan are setting their sights on
Canada so they can see how the Wolfpack
get on in Super League. Maybe we'll
see baby Archie in a Toronto beanie at
Lamport this season?
Despite anxiety that Harry might not
show up for the big day to avoid the
inevitable blizzard of media scrutiny, not
only was he there, but he showed he was
fully engaged in proceedings by watching
schoolchildren playing Rugby League on
his Gran's back lawn beforehand, and then
making sure that the balls in Pot A were
suitably shuffled before he drew them out.
The sumptuous red and gold backdrop
of one of the state rooms at Buck House
added genuine lustre to the proceedings
as alongside Prince Harry, Olympic gold Family social media accounts. In one of media magnet Harry to turn up to the
medalist from London 2012 and Head of those rare moments of serendipity that tournament opener at St James' Park and
UK Sport Dame Katherine Grainger and Rugby League rarely ever benefits from, present the match ball when England take
former England dual-code international the worldwide media interest in Harry's on Samoa on October 23.
Jason Robinson conducted the draw for impending split from the Royal Family England women will open their
both the men's, women's and wheelchair resulted in the World Cup draw making competition with their first match on
tournaments. The event was streamed global headline news and being splashed November 9 against Brazil at Headingley
live on multiple platforms including the all over the front pages the following day. while the wheelchair competition gets
BBC Sport website and the official Royal If the draw was anything to go by, we're underway for England when they play
in for a cracking tournament next year, Australia on November 11 at The Copper
and we can't help but hope the organisers Box Arena in London.
GETTING CHIPPY are already on the case of persuading We can't wait!

BEFORE the Rugby League World THE WORLD CUP DRAWS
Cup draw took place, offensive social
media troll Katie Hopkins, who never MENS
has a good word to say about anything,
decided to butt her unwanted nose into GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
proceedings on Twitter by saying that England Australia New Zealand Tonga
Meghan Markle had 'p*ssed on our chips' Samoa Fiji Lebanon PNG
by taking Prince Harry off our hands.
However, when the draw was France Scotland Jamaica Wales
completed by Harry without any Greece Italy Ireland Cook Islands
disruption, the RLWC2021 Twitter
account responded to Hopkins in truly
delicious fashion, proudly informing WOMEN'S WHEELCHAIR
her that their chips had not been p*ssed
on, and putting the odious attention
seeker firmly back in her box as far as GROUP A GROUP B GROUP A GROUP B
Rugby League is concerned. England Australia England France
It amazes us 'Hatie' has one million PNG New Zealand Australia Wales
followers and @RLWC2021 has only 22k,
but more top-notch slam-dunking like Canada France Spain Scotland
this and they'll surely be closing the gap. Brazil Cook Islands Norway USA

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