Princess of Wales to Witness England’s Quarter-Final Battle in Rugby World Cup
In a highly anticipated event, the Princess of Wales is gearing up to attend the Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between England and Fiji, taking place in Marseille this Sunday.
This visit to France follows Prince George’s recent trip to Marseille alongside his father, the Prince of Wales, to cheer on the Welsh rugby team. Unfortunately, Wales faced a heartbreaking defeat against Argentina, ending their World Cup aspirations.
The Princess of Wales will be in the stands on Sunday, filled with hope and excitement as she roots for the English team, hoping to witness their advancement to the semi-finals, where they could potentially face off against either France or South Africa.
Kate, who holds the prestigious position of patron for the Rugby Football Union, previously attended England’s opening match in the tournament in September when they secured a victory against Argentina.
During her previous appearance, she had the honor of meeting notable figures such as RFU president Rob Briers, France 2023 chairman Jacques Rivoal, and World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont. She was escorted to her seat in the Presidential Box at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, where she engaged in conversations with each of these sports administrators. Her longest conversation, however, was with Sir Bill Beaumont, a former England rugby captain.
Expressing her excitement during her visit, the Princess said, “We’re really excited to be here. Shame we can’t be here longer.”
Joining her at the Stade de Marseille for his first international sporting event overseas was ten-year-old Prince George. The father-son duo received a warm welcome from Sir Bill, France 2023 deputy chief executive Martine Nemecek, and Welsh Rugby Union president Gerald Davies.
Prince George’s friendly demeanor was on display as he greeted Sir Bill, shaking the former England player’s hand and exchanging greetings. In a lighthearted moment, Prince William introduced his son to Mr. Davies, praising his Welsh rugby legacy, while playfully comparing Sir Bill’s speed on the field to that of Mr. Davies.
Prince George, who is preparing for school entrance exams in the upcoming autumn, has a passion for rugby and actively participates in the sport at his school.
England’s performance in the tournament has been impressive, as they secured the top spot in their pool by winning all four of their group stage matches. Meanwhile, Fiji finished as the runner-up in their pool, claiming victories against Australia and Georgia but narrowly falling short against Wales and Portugal.
It’s worth noting that Fiji had previously defeated England with a score of 30-22 in a warm-up game at Twickenham in late August, adding extra anticipation and intrigue to this upcoming quarter-final clash.