Nadine Dorries

Speaking in St Helens at the launch of a report into the social impact of the Rugby League World Cup, Dorries opened her address with a reference to Jonny ...

'It is a little bit disrespectful to the various codes,' he added. They just need to do the research a little better. 'She gets a chance to see us as we really are and good on her for coming up. 'It's brilliant that she's here and we've had fantastic support from the Government. I'm not going to knock the shine off any of that. 'I've always quite liked the idea of rugby league,' she said. I think we were drinking Bloody Mary's at the time.

Nadine Dorries, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, confused rugby league with rival rugby union on Thursday.

"Whoever writes these scripts should check their facts before the speeches are delivered," Vaughan said. "I'll let you into a secret. "My longstanding memory is that 2003 drop goal.

Ms Dorries, who is secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, told a rugby league audience how much she enjoyed England winning the 2003 ...

I'm not going to knock the shine off any of that. He said: "I'm not going to dwell on that. "I'll let you into a secret.

The Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire was speaking at an event in St Helens to promote the Rugby League World Cup, which is being staged in England in ...

The drop goal she was referring to was, of course, Jonny Wilkinson’s iconic effort which won England the 2003 World Cup — in rugby union. Dorries has now taken to Twitter to say: "Like Jason Robinson, I may have switched codes in my speech... Let me reveal a secret, I think we were drinking Bloody Marys at the time.

Dorries referred to Jonny Wilkinson's match-winning drop goal for England in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup final.

“I’m not going to dwell on that,” Rimmer said. “We’re delighted that she came,” Dutton said. I think we were drinking Bloody Mary’s at the time.

Dorries stunned a rugby league audience in St Helens by referring to Jonny Wilkinson's match-winning drop goal for England in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup ...

But the culture secretary claimed the broadcaster was in “receipt of public money”. “I applaud the government for the money they have invested in rugby league but to make that reference to the drop-goal, we were floundered.” “And secondly, if you are the person who is delivering the speech then you need to do your research to check the information you have been given is correct. “I think we have a lot in common and given a lot of the media like to call me the prime minister’s attack dog, I wonder sometimes if I should give rugby a go.” But former England rugby union player and broadcaster Brian Moore led the criticism online, tweeting: “When I was told about this, I had to ask if it was a parody, but Dorries is beyond parody. “It was 11 o’clock in the morning but wow what a moment that was.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries confuses the two rugby codes in a speech at a Rugby League World Cup event in St Helens.

"The sport is 127 years old but needs a tournament like this to have more visibility. It's a little bit disrespectful to the various codes and there's a big difference in the codes." "Both league and union have a rich heritage in the UK. Obviously I've followed rugby league much less in my lifetime, but I'm looking forward to watching England (and all the home nations) in the RL World Cup this autumn."