A COMMUNITY rugby league club's vice-chairman said they were "left floundered" after government minister Nadine Dorries got her rugby codes mixed up at a Rugby League World Cup event.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries dropped the clanger at today's event at Portico Vine ARLFC.

She was speaking in the town to explain the positive impact that this autumn's tournament has already had across communities - particularly in the north.

However, she threw in a comment that got the sport mixed up with rugby union.

She said: "I’ve always quite liked the idea of rugby league and my long-standing memory is that 2003 drop goal. I think we were drinking Bloody Mary’s at the time… but wow, what a moment that was."

READ > Nadine Dorries gets rugby codes confused at Rugby League World Cup event

That was a reference the Jonny Wilkinson drop goal that saw the England rugby union beat Australia and win the World Cup for the first time.

Dorries later attempted make light of her faux pas, saying on Twitter that she may have “switched codes like Jason Robinson”. 

However, her comments were condemned by Portico Vine vice-chairman Billy Vaughan.

“Whoever writes these scripts should check their facts before the speeches are delivered,” he said.

“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.

“The difference between rugby league and rugby union is immense – we are the minnow by comparison.

“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.”

Rugby League World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton said he would be inviting Dorries back to attend the matches “to see for herself what a wonderful sport rugby league is”.

“We’re delighted that she came,” Dutton said. “We’re delighted that the Government has shown such a massive commitment to investing into the tournament and its social impact programme.

“My final words to the Secretary of State were that we would be delighted if she were to come back to the tournament, maybe to attend each of the three disciplines and see for herself what a wonderful sport rugby league is.”

Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer refused to criticise Dorries for her error, preferring to thank the Government for its £25million backing.

“I’m not going to dwell on that,” Rimmer said. “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.

“She gets a chance to see us as we really are and good on her for coming up.”