Prince Harry visits Headingley

HRH Prince Harry visited Headingley on Thursday as he completed his first official engagement as Rugby Football League patron.

Headingley was hosting a Sky Try Rugby League Festival, an initiative designed to bring 700,000 youngsters into the game.

Seven local primary schools took to the field with eight and-nine year-olds in the thick of the action.

High profile rugby league figures Kevin Sinfield, Sean O’Loughlin and Paul Sculthorpe were also in attendance to meet his royal highness.

Sinfield, rugby director at the RFL had great things to say about him after the event had finished.

“What he’s done today has shown to everybody that he means business,” Sinfield said.

“He was great walking round, he was dead chatty and enthusiastic about being here.

“If this is the start of things to come, it will be a very good partnership. It would have been easy to turn up at these events and ghost through and put on an act but he was 100 per cent behind it. He wanted to be here.

“I was probably a bit surprised how relaxed he was but he’s been a great ambassador today. I think he enjoys being at these community-type events.

“I don’t think he’s bothered about the limelight so to be here today was great and to see him, especially around the kids, was fantastic.”