The Duchess of Cambridge has made her first appearance as patron of England Rugby and UK's Rugby Football League.
Hours after being announced as the patron, Kate Middleton met male and female English rugby players at Twickenham Stadium, where England's national rugby union team plays home matches. During the relaxed event, she took part in a training session wearing an official practice kit.
See photos from the Duchess of Cambridge's first appearance as patron of England Rugby in the gallery above.
Following rumours that Kate would be stepping into the role, her appointment was confirmed on Wednesday on social media.
"I am so thrilled to become Patron of the @TheRFL and @EnglandRugby," she wrote in a tweet with an accompanying video. "Two fantastic organisations who are committed to harnessing the power that sport can have in bringing communities together and helping individuals flourish."
She takes over from Prince Harry, who lost the patronage when he stepped down as a working member of the British royal family in 2020.
During the engagement, the sporty Duchess of Cambridge was lifted to catch a ball during a lineout, scored a try, threw the ball around and even seemed to practice a scrum.
England players, including Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Jamie George and Ellis Genge, took part in the session
Kate wore an official England Rugby training kit, which includes a pair of £50 ($68) trousers and a £50 zip-up top.
The appointment has the potential to cause some sporting friction at home for the duchess, whose husband, Prince William, the future Prince of Wales, is the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.
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Scroll through the gallery below for Kate Middleton's 40 most memorable fashion moments:
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in 1960s-style Gucci, visits the Victoria and Albert Museum on June 29, 2017, in London. Getty Images -
The Duchess of Cambridge wears red Alexander McQueen in a new portrait by Paolo Roversi released on January 8, 2022, to celebrate her 40th birthday on January 9. Paolo Roversi / Kensington Palace via AP -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who wears lavender Alexander McQueen, arrive at the 2011 Bafta Brits To Watch Event at the Belasco Theatre in July 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears The Vampire's Wife to attend a reception at the Guinness Storehouse's Gravity Bar in Dublin, Ireland, in March 3, 2020. EPA -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in gold Jenny Packham, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, arrive for the world premiere of the James Bond film 'No Time to Die' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 28, 2021. EPA -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a pink Marks & Spencer suit to work from home at Kensington Palace in March 2020. Kensington Palace / Instagram -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a red Miu Miu cashmere jumper, in the 'Royal Carols – Together At Christmas trailer', filmed at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2021. ITV -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in pink Me+Em, during a meeting with Mila Sneddon and her family at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, on May 27, 2021. Getty Images -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who wears a red Catherine Walker coatdress, at Westminster Abbey for the 'Royal Carols – Together At Christmas' carol concert on December 8, 2021. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a red Alexander McQueen coat, arrives for the launch of the Hold Still campaign at Waterloo Station, London, in October 20, 2020. Getty Images -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wearing Alexander McQueen, on their wedding day, April 29, 2011. AP -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears Erdem to a reception at the Fotografiska Gallery in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 31, 2018. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a Needle & Thread dress at a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London on January 20, 2020. Reuters -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who wears a yellow Roksanda Ilincic dress, at the Sydney Opera House on April 16, 2014. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a purple Gucci blouse to work from home at Kensington Palace in November 2020. Instagram / Kensington Royal -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who wears green Jenny Packham, at a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner at the Pakistan National Monument in Islamabad, on October 15, 2019. Getty Images -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who wears Alexander McQueen, at the 73rd Annual British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on February 2, 2020. She first wore the McQueen dress in 2012. EPA -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears blue Roland Mouret to SportsAid's 40th anniversary dinner on June 9, 2016 in London. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears Alexander McQueen to the 72nd Annual British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on February 10, 2019. EPA -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in teal Jenny Packham, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, arrive at 'Our Greatest Team Rises – BOA Olympic Concert' at the Royal Albert Hall on May 11, 2012. Getty Images -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in black velvet Alexander McQueen, and Prince Harry attend The Sun Military Awards at Imperial War Museum on December 19, 2011 in London. Getty Images -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Kate Middleton, who wears a blue Issa dress, in St James Palace, London, after announcing their engagement on November 16, 2010. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing Alexander McQueen, arrives for the 70th Annual British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on February 12, 2017. EPA -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in gold Jenny Packham, attends a gala dinner in support of East Anglia's Children's Hospices' Nook appeal at Houghton Hall in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on June 22, 2016. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a pale pink Jenny Packham dress to attend the Ark 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Perk's Field in London on June 9, 2011. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a Zara leopard print skirt and Massimo Dutti turtleneck, arrives at Ely and Caerau Children’s Centre in Cardiff, Wales, on January 22, 2020. Getty Images -
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who wears black lace Temperley London, attend the UK premiere of 'War Horse' on January 8, 2012 in London. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a floral Faithfull midi dress to visit to The Nook in Framlingham Earl, Norfolk, one of three East Anglia's Children's Hospices, on June 25, 2020. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears pale blue Mulberry for an engagement in Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, on February 28, 2019. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing a Warehouse sweater and green Jigsaw culottes, visits The Angela Marmont Centre For UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum in London on October 9, 2019. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in nautical stripes and LK Bennett trousers, attends the King's Cup Regatta at Greenwich on May 7, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in silver Amanda Wakeley, attends the In Kind Direct charity at Clarence House, London, on October 26, 2011. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing her second Alexander McQueen wedding dress, leaves Clarence House to travel to Buckingham Palace for the evening celebrations following her wedding to Prince William on April 29, 2011 in London. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a paisley Ralph Lauren blouse, visits the Faberge in 'London: Romance to Revolution' exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum on December 2, 2021. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in yellow Emilia Wickstead, attends a garden party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace on May 22, 2013. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a red Catherine Walker coat attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in gold and green Erdem, with British ambassador to Sweden David Cairns during a visit to Sweden on January 30, 2018. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in red houndstooth Alessandra Rich, walks with museum director Tristram Hunt during her visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum on May 19, 2021 in London. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a red Christopher Kane skirt and Polo Ralph Lauren turtleneck sweater, arrives to launch the Taking Action on Addiction campaign at Bafta on October 19, 2021 in London. Getty Images -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in blue lace Temperley London, attends a World Mental Health Day reception at Buckingham Palace in London on October 10, 2017. Getty Images
