Prince Harry longs to get ball in hand
Prince Harry has revealed he can no longer play rugby due to ‘‘numerous injuries’’, but he still pines for the game.
‘‘I’m like a labrador with a tennis ball,’’ he said. ‘‘As soon as I see a rugby ball...’’
Prince Harry - who congratulated Richie McCaw after he led the All Blacks to the 2015 World Cup title - attended an open England training session in London at the weekend.
The avid fan also met amateur players from LBGT teams, schemes to help young offenders and a charity which uses rugby to reach lonely older people, the Daily Telegraph reported.
‘‘Everybody of any size, any background, can get together, beat each other up on the pitch - within the rules of the game of course - and get together afterwards.’’
Prince Harry, 33, told his audience he played ‘‘scrumhalf for about five or six years until I got too tall and instead of being a forward I elected to be a flyhalf’’.
While he no longer played due to ‘‘numerous injuries’’, Prince Harry said: ‘‘I’m like a labrador with a tennis ball,’’ he said. ‘‘As soon as I see a rugby ball...’’
The Daily Telegraph said the rugby-loving royal, who is often pictured in the crowd at England internationals, told some of the players involved in the young offenders scheme that rugby could be a life-affirming experience.
‘‘It’s very easy to be shy and quite reserved as a kid growing up, but who would’ve thought getting smashed on a pitch, maybe not at your age, but going down the pub afterwards would give you friends for life.
‘‘It’s guys like you who are ambassadors for the sport. You are living proof that it works.’’