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We’ve learned not to set our expectations for Nadine Dorries too high, and yet somehow she still manages to limbo under them with magnificent ease.
The secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport – and it’s the sport bit that’s most relevant here – was at it again today at an event about the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.
Over to the BBC’s sports editor, Dan Roan.
AUDIO of gaffe by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries during speech at a Rugby League World Cup social impact event in St Helens earlier.
“I’ve always quite liked the idea of rugby league – my long-standing memory is that 2003 drop-goal… Wow, what a moment that was.” Listenpic.twitter.com/wD1FPJaK1e
— Dan Roan (@danroan) June 30, 2022
Except, as anyone who knows anything about rugby – and quite a few people who know nothing about rugby – will tell you, the 2003 World Cup win she’s referring to was rugby union, not rugby league, a very different thing.
old Nadine Dorries: why can't the BBC be Netflix
new Nadine Dorries: why can't Rugby League be Rugby Union
— Henry Mance (@henrymance) June 30, 2022
Here’s what Dorries said later in a tweet we have no doubt she composed entirely by herself.
Like Jason Robinson I may have switched codes in my speech… Both league & union have a rich heritage in the UK. Obviously I've followed rugby league much less in my lifetime, but I'm looking forward to watching England (& all the home nations) in the RL World Cup this Autumn
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) June 30, 2022
But it didn’t stop the mockery going into extra time.
A stressed press officer writes.. https://t.co/maRB5RbLGM
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) June 30, 2022
Have you ever thought about fact checking your speeches before you make these embarrassing blunders?
Try it, it will save you having to make these humiliating pretend corrections. https://t.co/jvDPgvFAJF— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) June 30, 2022
I've loved Rugby League ever since I saw Pele score a home run at Wimbledon in '74.
Secretary of state for Culture, Media and SPORT apparently.#NadineDorries https://t.co/ybwvFWxBOg— Owen Hughes (@0w3nHugh3s) June 30, 2022
Nadine Dorries, as she frequently reminds us, is from the north west, where rugby league is/was covered extensively on local tv/radio. She’s also Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom and doesn’t know there’s two types of rugby. https://t.co/8kTGxcjBKK
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) June 30, 2022
“You know we were talking earlier about Jason Robinson? – Oh, yeah? – Jason Thorpe Robinson. Born 1974, switched codes permanently in November 2000” https://t.co/KUMhSY63SR
— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) June 30, 2022
Can you tweet something like… https://t.co/bjcHFWk99z
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) June 30, 2022
Trying to imagine the combined salaries that managed to come up with this embarrassment https://t.co/ZZ2j1t7XiM
— Simon Bajkowski (@spbajko) June 30, 2022
Chalk another one up for Nads.
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Source Twitter @danroan
The post Nadine Dorries’ cringeworthy rugby fail had sports fans facepalming into next week appeared first on The Poke.
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