Tindall: Retired after 17 years in professional rugby union

World Cup winner Mike Tindall has admitted he will not seek an immediate switch to full-time coaching after retiring from professional rugby.

Aviva Premiership. Click here to bet.

Tindall: Retired after 17 years in professional rugby union

Former England captain Tindall has confirmed his retirement after 17 years of top-flight action, the 35-year-old rejecting the chance to seek a move away from Gloucester.

Tindall admitted rugby director Nigel Davies’ sacking at the end of last season left his chances of a new contract at Kingsholm limited.

Gloucester have since recruited rugby director David Humphreys and a new back-room staff, leaving no place for Tindall to continue his player/coaching role.

“I could play two more years if I really wanted to but club rugby is a very special thing for me, it’s what I love about the game,” Tindall told the Gloucester Citizen.

“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. I always say ‘never say never’ but I wouldn’t have thought I will be back.

“You have to face the big bad world some time and now is the right time to do that.”

The Otley-born centre racked up 75 caps for England including helping Sir Clive Woodward’s side to the 2003 World Cup triumph.

Tindall has now become the final member of that 2003 World Cup squad to confirm his retirement from rugby.

Former Bath and Gloucester team-mate Iain Balshaw retired earlier this summer, with Jonny Wilkinson also closing out his career with a Heineken Cup-French Top 14 double at Toulon.

Tindall was pivotal to England’s Grand Slam victory in 2003, but later found himself in hot water in a wretched 2011 World Cup campaign in New Zealand.

England’s disappointing performance in 2011 led to coach Martin Johnson’s exit and the end of Tindall’s international career, after he was resoundingly criticised for a night out during the tournament.

Tindall said he will now seek media work with BT Sport and BBC Radio 5 Live rather than chase a full-time coaching role.

“If I was honest, I did enjoy the player/coach role but at the same time it would be too easy to chase a coaching role,” said Tindall, who spent nine years at Gloucester.

“As soon as Nigel left I knew it would be very difficult as my contract had run out and my coaching experience was limited.

“I was always fully aware what might end up happening and as soon as they signed (new director of rugby) David Humphreys I knew.

“But after 17 years in the game playing it’s very easy to think you have to stay in that environment.

“But now what this has given me is an opportunity to have a year away from that and have a look at what else is out there.

“It’s a little bit daunting going into something where I am out of my comfort zone but at the same time it is exciting.”

Mike Tindall Factfile:

1978: Born October 18, in Otley, West Yorkshire.

1997: Joins Bath straight from a private education at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield.

2000: Makes England debut in Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham, scoring a try in the 50-18 win.

2003: Forms England centre partnership with Will Greenwood, winning the World Cup against Australia in Sydney and a Grand Slam in the Six Nations.

2005: Misses Lions tour with a foot injury and later joins Gloucester after fall-out with Bath owner Andrew Brownsword.

2007: Breaks leg in tackle on Toby Flood during a Premiership game against Newcastle and misses the World Cup.

2008: Suffers punctured lung and damaged liver in Six Nations match against Wales, spending five days in intensive care.

2009: Banned from driving for three years after pleading guilty to drink-driving following a day out at Cheltenham Festival. Misses Lions tour with a knee injury.

2010: Announces engagement to Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne.

2011: February – Captains England for the first time in Six Nations match against Wales.

July – Marries Phillips in Edinburgh.

October: Captains England at the World Cup in New Zealand but is criticised after leading players on a night out in Queenstown. England are eliminated after a quarter-final defeat to France.

November 11: Fined £25,000 and kicked out of England elite squad after a Rugby Football Union hearing into his misdemeanours at the World Cup.

November 28: RFU announces Tindall fine has been reduced on appeal to £15,000 and he has been reinstated in the elite player squad.

2012: Selected for the Barbarians for the first time and plays against England, Ireland and Wales.

2013: Agrees to extend contract as player-coach at Gloucester to the end of the 2013-14 season but the team endure a disappointing campaign, finishing ninth.

2014: January – Tindall and Phillips announce the birth of their first child, a baby girl.

July – Tindall announces his retirement from professional rugby.

Bet now on the 2014/15 Aviva Prem season!

Article source: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/169750-rugby-star-craig-chalmers-apologies-for-behaviour/

Tindall: Retired after 17 years in professional rugby union