Mike Tindall

Michael James Tindall, (born 18 October 1978) is an English former rugby union player and a member of the British royal family.

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

Tindall's maternal ancestors include bootmakers, stonemasons and weavers; his paternal great-grandfather, Arthur Sutcliffe Tindall, was a blacksmith, the grandson of William Tindall, a landowner farming 105 acres at Fairburn, North Yorkshire.

Tindall was educated at the independent public school Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, while his father captained Otley Rugby Union Football Club.

Tindall joined Bath straight from school, as an 18-year-old in 1997.

At the time, the centre pairing at Bath and England were Jeremy Guscott and Phil de Glanville, but after the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Tindall played regularly at both club and country level, making his England debut against Ireland at Twickenham in 2000 alongside Mike Catt, scoring a try in the process.

Tindall played outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, and won 75 caps for England between 2000 and 2011.

Tindall made his debut for England on 5 February 2000, against Ireland in the 2000 Six Nations Championship.

Tindall played in eleven Six Nations Championship competitions from 2000 to 2011.

Tindall is married to Zara Phillips, the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal and the eldest niece of King Charles III.

They have three children.

He was a member of the England squad which won the 2003 World Cup.

As well as winning the 2003 World Cup, he was a member of the England team which won the 2003 Six Nations Championship.

Despite criticism over the years, in particular from Will Carling and ex-Bath fly-half Stuart Barnes, he cemented the outside centre position as his own with a partnership with inside centre Will Greenwood, playing in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Tindall wore the number 12 jersey and played at outside centre; he usually lined up outside Greenwood, as the latter preferred to wear the number 13 jersey for superstitious reasons.

He was dropped for the semi-final in favour of Mike Catt, whose kicking was required in the rainy weather.

Tindall was reinstated in the final, which England won.

Tindall missed the 2005 Six Nations with a foot injury.

He was unable to regain his fitness for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

Described by England's former head coach, Andy Robinson, as the 'heartbeat' of the side, Tindall found his way back to form, following a lengthy absence, in 2005.

Tindall's contract became up for renewal in 2005, but encountered difficulties with Bath's strict salary cap policy.

After falling out with Bath owner Andrew Brownsword over the offer of an early testimonial game and further concerns over his long term fitness, Tindall ended his eight-year association with Bath.

He joined their West Country rivals Gloucester Rugby on a three-year deal worth £150,000.

After returning from injury in the autumn of 2005, Tindall regained his England place, this time at inside centre.

At club level, he continued to play at 13, with the 12 shirt going to Henry Paul.

The partnership was heavily criticised and Tindall reportedly spent much of the season showing a poor run of form despite selection.

Henry Paul broke club rules and fell out of favour with Gloucester Rugby coach, Dean Ryan during an incident at Tindall's girlfriend's birthday party.

Young centre, Anthony Allen, was subsequently introduced, which helped forge the start of a "powerful" centre partnership between the two towards the end of the season.

His partnership with Jamie Noon was criticised, with claims that the bulky partnership lacked imagination and play-making ability.

During his recuperation from another injury in 2005, Tindall entered the British Poker Open tournament, finishing in 3rd place in his heat before being eliminated by John Gale.

On 18 November 2006, Tindall made his first Guinness Premiership start of the season against third-placed Wasps.

Troubled by a calf injury into the 2006/07 season, he made only two appearances as a replacement, against Worcester and Irish.

Tindall came back from his injury however with a much more highly rated run of form.

He was injured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Tindall was again included in the England starting line up for the 2007 Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham, under new head coach Brian Ashton, selected to play outside former rugby league footballer Andy Farrell.

In April 2007, playing away against Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership, Tindall broke his leg in a tackle on Toby Flood, forcing him to miss the rest of the season, including the Guinness Premiership final.

This also precluded his selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

In October 2007, after recovering from injury, Tindall returned to the Gloucester starting line up, against Worcester Warriors at home, in the Guinness Premiership.

Tindall had a "fairytale" comeback, scoring a try to the Shed's delight.

On 7 December 2007 against Bourgoin in the Heineken Cup, Tindall limped off the field with a shin injury sustained in a similar tackle from that against Newcastle the previous season when he broke his leg.