“Jos Buttler will be Rugby League captain” – How social media reacted to Nadine Dorries’ Rugby League World Cup blunder including Harry Potter, Roy of the Rovers and Leeds Rhinos

Yesterday, you might have heard about a little blunder at a Rugby League World Cup event in St Helens.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries was promoting the event which is due to take place this autumn in the UK but confused the rugby codes saying she’s always “liked the idea of rugby league” but that he favourite memory of the game was “that 2003 drop goal” meaning Jonny Wilkinson winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup Final ironically on the same day Great Britain were defeated by Australia in Rugby League in the Ashes.

The incident of course caused quite a stir with many making light of the mistake with jokes galore, whilst some were infuriated.

However, it has helped promote the event with both rugby league and the Rugby League World Cup ending up on the trending page on twitter with over 20 thousands tweets about the subjects posted.

We thought we’d bring you the best of them starting with some of the hilarious tweets making light of her mistake. Harry Potter even made an appearance.

I've loved Rugby League ever since I saw Gary Lineker score a century at Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/TdvMv9yZto

— Rugby League Dinosaur (@DinosaurLeague) June 30, 2022

Nadine Dorries has confirmed Jos Buttler will be the new Rugby League captain for the World Cup in Qatar this summer pic.twitter.com/fINav8FFYT

— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) June 30, 2022

Who, in your view, is the greatest Rugby League player ever? pic.twitter.com/S6HkZCadC3

— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) June 30, 2022

Hard to argue against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Who can forget his 9 dart finish to win Wimbledon.

— Steve Cook 🇺🇦 (@MrCook2USon) June 30, 2022

I have been a huge rugby league fan since I watched Roy of the Rovers single handedly beat the All Blacks at Lords pic.twitter.com/VCOHg87Qh7

— Adrian Vowles (@AdrianVowles13) July 1, 2022

"I've been a massive Rugby League fan since 2015 when Leeds scored 50 runs for no wickets against Hull KR at Wembley". pic.twitter.com/5Jx361Hind

— RL Disciplinary (@RLDToo) June 30, 2022

“I’ve been a huge Rugby League fan ever since I saw Warrington win the Grand Final” pic.twitter.com/utrdUpbFUf

— Michael Lavelle (@mikelavelle93) June 30, 2022

Even some Super League clubs got involved including Leeds Rhinos who chose to remember a different drop goal from 2003.

Who’d have thought after all these years we’d still be talking about THAT drop goal from 2003, we can’t wait to meet @CTRLFC again at the Magic Weekend – always a WOW moment in any season https://t.co/wXPdJ8QYR2

— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) June 30, 2022

Shirley Crabtree. Kicked a belting drop goal at the 2003 World Cup. 🏉 https://t.co/aDVWd3avw9

— Huddersfield Giants 🐮🔔 (@Giantsrl) June 30, 2022

There were some who pointed out that it may actually help the event by bringing more attention to it.

Although we joke about Nadine Dorries & how little the Secretary of State For Sport actually knows about sport.

She has marketed RLWC2021 to a nationwide audience more than the tournament organisers & The RFL.

— Rugby League Dinosaur (@DinosaurLeague) June 30, 2022

She has done us a favour. Better than Ralph bumbling on.

— Lawrence Loz Jones (@LozLawrence) June 30, 2022

To be fair Nadine Dorries has done more for the promotion of the rugby league World Cup than the NRL.

— Scott Fairhurst (@scott_fairhurst) July 1, 2022

In fact, in our poll over 40% of people said they believed it was good for the World Cup.

Could the Nadine Dorries incident be good for the Rugby League World Cup?

— Serious About Rugby League (@SeriousAboutRL) June 30, 2022

After the incident, Ralph Rimmer said there was no use dwelling on it and some agreed believing the sport should simply ride the wave.

Yeah. What is the point on dwelling on it? Move on and promote the sport so nobody has a gaffe again

— Will.i.Balls 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇭🇰🇺🇦 (@whizzingaway) June 30, 2022