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Prince Harry takes on rugby role | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Prince Harry has become vice-patron of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) at the team's match with Wales in the Six Nations tournament. | Prince Harry has become vice-patron of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) at the team's match with Wales in the Six Nations tournament. |
Harry also became patron of the RFU's Injured Players' Foundation. | Harry also became patron of the RFU's Injured Players' Foundation. |
Before the game at Twickenham, west London, he and brother Prince William met five servicemen who had been injured in Afghanistan. | |
William was named vice-patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2007. The Queen is patron of the RFU and WRU. | William was named vice-patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 2007. The Queen is patron of the RFU and WRU. |
The injured service personnel whom the princes met have all been treated at Headley Court in Surrey or Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. | |
Sergeant Paul Barrett, 35, from Manchester, lost a leg when he was caught in a blast from an improvised explosive device in 2008. | |
'Stay positive' | |
Sgt Barrett, of 45 Commando Royal Marines, said: "It is absolute honour to meet them. The princes said, 'thanks for everything' and then told us how much they appreciated what we have done. It's nice to hear that from them." | |
The servicemen were given a standing ovation from the crowd. | |
Asked about being invited to watch the match, Sgt Barrett said: "It is fantastic. It shows us the backing we have and the support. | |
"Without a shadow of a doubt you have got to stay positive. That's what we do in the military. We are positive people." | |
Prince Harry, who deployed to Afghanistan two years ago, soon had the injured men laughing as he squatted down beside their wheelchairs. | |
RFU president John Owen said he was "delighted" that Harry had become to become vice-patron. | |
"His support for the RFU Injured Players' Foundation will be invaluable in helping those seriously injured playing the game," Mr Owen added. | "His support for the RFU Injured Players' Foundation will be invaluable in helping those seriously injured playing the game," Mr Owen added. |
The princes met players on both sides before the match, which marks 100 years since the two countries met in the first international at Twickenham. |