Mike Tindall facts: 10 things you didn’t know about the England legend

Below are 10 interesting Mike Tindall facts that all rugby fans may not know about the England legend.

Tindall was born 18 October 1978 at Wharfedale Hospital in Otley, West Yorkshire, the son of Linda Shepherd, a social worker, and Philip Tindall, a banker for Barclays.

Tindall is married to Zara Phillips, the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Tindall, whose nose was famously broken at least eight times during his rugby career, underwent a surgery in 2018 which fixed the fractures.

He is regarded as one of the best players to never wear the Lions jersey, However, he did play against them as part of a Barbarians XV in 2013.

Since retiring, Tindall has gone back to grassroots rugby and is playing and coaching with amateur club Minchinhampton RFC, who compete in Gloucester 2. Tindall made his debut against Gloucester All Blues in October 2014. Minchinhampton RFC is conveniently located for Tindall next to Gatcombe Park where he lives.

Tindall has two criminal convictions for drunk-driving

On 11 November 2011, Tindall was fined £25,000 by the Rugby Football Union and was removed from its elite player squad as a result of his throwing a dwarf in Queenstown, New Zealand during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He has improved on his 18 handicap remarkably since his retirement in 2014. The former England and Barbarians man now plays off a handy 10.

Mike's sometimes nickname is “The Fridge” due to his sizeable 6ft 2inch bulk.

Monbeg Dude was bought accidentally by Tindall when he bid £12,000 for him at Cheltenham in 2010 (thinking someone would out bid him). Tindall managed to convince fellow players at the time James Simpson-Daniel and Nicky Robinson to contribute.

Monbeg Dude won the Welsh Grand National, a grade 1 win at Cheltenham and came third in the Grand National in 2015. Here is the steeplechaser winning the 2012 Welsh National.