Princess Anne's Awkward Hug Rejection with Scotland Rugby Captain Goes Viral
An uncomfortable interaction between Princess Anne and Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was captured live on camera during the Calcutta Cup presentation following a thrilling Six Nations victory. The incident occurred after Scotland's 31-20 win over England at Murrayfield on Saturday, which propelled them to the top of the championship table.
The Awkward Exchange Caught on Camera
Live footage broadcast on ITV showed the moment when Tuipulotu approached the royal box to collect the Calcutta Cup from Princess Anne, who had recently returned from attending the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. As the Scotland captain reached the Princess Royal, he moved to embrace her in what appeared to be a celebratory hug.
However, Princess Anne took a step back, placed her hand on his shoulder, and had a brief word with him before handing over the historic trophy. The entire exchange lasted mere seconds but was immediately noticed by viewers and quickly circulated across social media platforms.
Scotland's Crucial Victory
The awkward moment did little to dampen Scotland's celebration of their important victory, which came as much-needed relief for under-pressure head coach Gregor Townsend. The win followed a disappointing 18-15 defeat to Italy in their Six Nations opener the previous weekend.
This victory marked Scotland's seventh Calcutta Cup win in nine encounters, reclaiming the trophy after narrowly losing to England the previous year. The triumph sent Scotland to the top of the Six Nations championship table, though France later claimed that position with their commanding win over Wales on Sunday.
Captain's Response and Team Focus
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Tuipulotu expressed his pride in the team's performance despite the awkward royal encounter. "I'm extremely proud," he said. "To go through what we went through last week really hurt and we understood because we deserved it. Ultimately Italy were better than us."
The captain emphasized the team's resilience, stating: "We really felt like our backs were against the wall and we showed up today. We got behind our coach this week. I'm proud of the boys for getting behind our coach and delivering a performance."
Looking Ahead to Wales Clash
Scotland will return to the field next Saturday to face Wales at the Millennium Stadium (4.40pm kickoff). Following their Calcutta Cup triumph, Scotland enter the match as heavy favorites against a Welsh team that suffered a 54-12 defeat to France at the Principality Stadium on Sunday.
Wales will be aiming to bounce back from two consecutive hammerings, having also lost 48-7 to England in their opening Six Nations match last week. The match promises to be a crucial encounter as Scotland seeks to maintain their championship momentum while Wales desperately needs to recover their form.
The viral moment between Princess Anne and Tuipulotu has added an unexpected dimension to Scotland's Calcutta Cup celebration, though it's unlikely to overshadow the significance of their victory over their historic rivals.
