Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries confuses rugby union and rugby league in speech

Culture Secretary and Mid Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries stunned a rugby league audience by confusing the 13-man game with the rival code.

Speaking in St Helens at the launch of a report into the social impact made by the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Dorries opened her address with a reference to Jonny Wilkinson's match-winning drop goal for England in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.

"I've always quite liked the idea of rugby league," she said. "My long-standing memory is that 2003 drop goal.

"I'll let you into a secret. I think we were drinking Bloody Mary's at the time. It was 11 o'clock in the morning but wow what a moment that was."

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