Kate Middleton has once again demonstrated her athletic prowess on the rugby pitch after recently announcing her new role as patron of rugby football league and rugby football union.

Photographs showed the Duchess completely in her element alongside professional rugby players, and it was clear to the untrained eye that she has a natural talent for the sport.

Former rugby player Mike Tyndall (married to Prince William's cousin Zara Tyndall), on an episode of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, which he co-hosts with Alex Payne and James Haskell, Cambridge discussed the Duchess's performance.

"She looks more like a natural rugby player than the two of you combined," Payne told the other two (via People).

Tyndall had to admit that Payne was right. "I texted Ellis [an English rugby union player] and said, 'mate, tell me anything she's screwed up, and I'll tell you what she's done. ' But she hates to lose. But she's a competitive person."

Haskell was similarly impressed with the Duchess. 'When she was announced, I thought she was amazing,' he said. 'But the way she caught the ball, the way she jumped in the lineout, the way she broke down a bit out there, it was just amazing. I thought, 'Dual sport, what a great ambassador.'

Tindall said of the skill the Duchess displayed during the lineout play, "Imagine, it's not easy to get thrown out of a lineout if you've never done it before.

Kate Middleton indeed!