Harry all smiles as he celebrates grassroots rugby after World Cup exit

Updated

Prince Harry has put the disappointment of England's Rugby World Cup exit behind him and celebrated the grassroots of the sport at a tiny Devon club.

Harry watched the national team lose to Wales at the weekend - as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat beside him and celebrated the win of their team.

But he was all smiles during a visit to Paignton rugby club which is developing community links and inspiring youngsters to take up the game thanks to Rugby Football Union (RFU) initiatives.

The club was buzzing with excitement at the royal visit and their guest did not disappoint going on a walkabout to meet members and posing for pictures with the various teams training on the pitch.

Harry even canvassed the views of the youngsters asking them who they were now supporting after tournament hosts England's shock exit.

The club's girl players told the royal Japan was their favoured team, and when a group of boys, playing under the RFU's All Schools legacy programme, gave the same response, he said "everybody's saying Japan".

Harry is patron of All Schools which aims to increase the number of state secondary schools playing rugby.

The initiative offers support to schools over a three year period, including kit and equipment, coaching, student volunteer training and links to centres like Paignton.

During his chat with the club's girl players he asked them what they liked about the sport and when one replied "tackling" he joked: "You've got so much aggression you want let loose - in a legal way."

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