JODIE Cunningham described time spent with the Princess of Wales and England teammate Emily Rudge as memories to last a lifetime.

The Warringtonians met Her Royal Highness, Kate, with the England Women team after Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup victory over Canada at the DW Stadium in Wigan – with the Princess highlighting the players as an inspiration and role models.

But then Emily, the England captain, and Jodie, the St Helens skipper – friends since their days at Cardinal Newman High School – sat either side of Kate during the second half of the men’s follow-on World Cup quarter-final clash between England and Papua New Guinea.

For two women whose rugby league careers have taken the same club and international path since winning national schools competitions together, it was a magical afternoon on the Princess’ first official engagement as Royal patron of the Rugby Football League.

And among all the chat and laughter they even managed to squeeze in a selfie!

“It was incredible. I don’t think I anticipated how big a moment it would be, but we were definitely awe-struck,” said Jodie, a Rugby League World Cup ambassador who features alongside her Saints teammate Emily and a number of England internationals in the BBC’s recent Women of Steel documentary focusing on the lead-up to the women’s tournament.

“I wasn’t really prepared for what it would be like. So me and Emily were like “Oh my God, what are we going to say to her and what are we going to ask?”

“But actually the conversation flowed really well. She was just so lovely, down to earth, and so interested in rugby league in general – about the England camp and our journeys in the sport.

“We were asking her about the different sports she’s played and what sports her kids play. It was just really nice.

“The Princess of Wales was asking us about our recovery after games and whether we have ice baths because she does quite a lot of recovery and has ice baths after her training. She said it helps with mental health and mindset.

“She was asking about the documentary Women of Steel, so she said she’s going to catch that on the iPlayer which is great.”

Jodie added: “She asked how we both got started in the sport. Emily had started before me and she was the reason I started playing. So we spoke to her about how we got involved, and it was nice we could share that moment with the Princess together. Quite a few people have said to us since, that, for us two as friends, how nice it was for us to have that moment together. Our parents afterwards were going crazy about it all.”

The Princess was introduced to the England and PNG men's teams and match officials on the DW Stadium pitch before that game kicked off, spending time chatting to some of the stars on show and the children who were acting as mascots.

Going forward, Jodie believes rugby league is going to have a great ally in the Princess of Wales.

“She was really impressed with the product on the pitch, and how fast and physical it was,” said Jodie.

“Also she was impressed with everything that rugby league stands for as well. She said the community feel of it is brilliant, which is something that we pride ourselves on in rugby league – that really inclusive community element we have.

“That inclusivity and community feel really shone through to her.”