Rugby league star Olly Ashall-Bott ‘proud’ of girlfriend Georgia Stanway

Professional rugby league player Olly Ashall-Bott experienced the joy of England’s victory in the Euro 2022 final through his girlfriend Georgia Stanway, one of the triumphant lionesses.

The Toulouse Olympique defender received the ‘pass out’ from his manager Sylvain Houles to take part in Saturday’s final against Germany at Wembley and had the chance to join the after-match party before catching an early morning flight back to France to prepare for Thursday’s match. Super League match at Hull KR.

“I’m so glad I got the chance to see her,” Ashall-Bott, 24, who flew to London after his side’s game against Hull on Friday night, told the PA news agency.

“I hadn’t caught an England game before because our games didn’t line up – when I was playing, she was playing – but I had the weekend off and Sylvain gave me the go – I don’t think he could have said no.

“And what a game to go see! They did their job in front of a packed stadium, I was thrilled and so happy for her and the team.

“It sounds strange, but I think I played in it. Because we’re so close, I think I had the same feeling as her—maybe not as much, but I still feel like I won too.

“And to share such moments with her is just incredible for me. There’s a video of me on TV hugging her at Wembley, memories like that you never forget.

“I got to go to the after-game party and see all the girls – I know most of them because I’ve been with Georgia for a long time.

“I won’t say too much because it’s going to be a big head, but she knows how proud I am of her.”

Stanway, 23, who scored England’s winner in the quarter-final against Spain, will have the chance to return the favor when he sees his boyfriend in action at Craven Park on Thursday.

And the globe-trotting pair will meet in Toulouse later this month when Stanway plays for her new club Bayern Munich in the AMOS French Cup, a competition that also includes Manchester United and will be held at the Stade Ernest Wallon, which is also the host . from Olympique.

“I like to think they did it on purpose,” said Ashall-Bott, who plans to spend two months of the close season with his girlfriend in Germany following her departure from Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Ashall-Bott believes the Lionesses’ triumph can leave an indelible mark on world sport once the holidays are over.

“I don’t think they’ve stopped partying yet,” he said. “I told him, ‘Enjoy these moments because they don’t come around often.’

“I think it’s massive for every sport out there, across all genres. A few years ago, when I first met Georgia, they were bringing a little over 1,000 people to a game.

“I’ve been fully behind it since I met Georgia and it’s crazy how big it is, for women in general, forget football and sports, it’s massive for women.

“I don’t think you can compare men’s and women’s football anymore, it’s just sport now.”

Stanway, who hails from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, will move to Germany on Sunday to sign a two-year deal with Bayern Munich.