Prince Harry’s first public engagement since announcing that he and Meghan are to step back from their royal duties is to go ahead as planned on Thursday, when he conducts the draw for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup at Buckingham Palace with restricted media access. Other sports reporters will be hosted at an event in Manchester, where the draw will be streamed live. The royal showdown: everything you need to know Read moreHarry’s presence, announced on the Twitter accounts of the Rugby League World Cup and the royal family, affords the sport a golden opportunity to propel itself into the mainstream media. With the event arranged long before last week’s statement, the chief executive of the Rugby Football League, Ralph Rimmer, admitted there would be unexpected benefits on Thursday. “In light of everything that has happened recently, we’re honoured that he will make the draw,” Rimmer said at a media event in Huddersfield.

Source: The Guardian January 13, 2020 19:30 UTC