Rugby opened those doors during a 17-year professional career, first with Bath and, from 2005, Gloucester. His longevity was remarkable given his direct style. A hard-running, hard-tackling midfielder, his nose was broken eight times during a 75-cap Test career which ended in controversy after the dismal 2011 World Cup campaign. He was fined £15,000 after being captured on camera falling drunk into a blonde’s arms in a Queenstown bar on a squad night out and never played for his country again after the tournament.
His career continued at Kingsholm where he combined playing duties with an assistant coaching role but the sacking of director of rugby Nigel Davies and the installation of David Humphreys as his replacement in the summer left him surplus to requirements. He had offers to play on elsewhere at a lower level but opted not to.
“I had to ask myself if I wanted to go and play somewhere else. Can you get emotionally attached to another club? Because that is the pull of club rugby for me. I don’t think you can,” said Tindall.
“You have to face the big bad world some time and now is the right time to do that.”
England’s former Gloucester stand-off Freddie Burns tweeted yesterday: “Awesome to have played with and been drunken under the table by @miketindall13.”
Article source: http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/live/match-preview/39932/hull-k-r-v-hull
England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall"s hanging up his crown
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