Mike Tindall kicked out of England Rugby squad
Former England captain Mike Tindall has been fined £25,000 and removed from England’s elite player squad for his conduct during the World Cup in New Zealand.
The 11 year international career of 33 year old Mike Tindall appears to be over as a result of a night out in Queenstown in New Zealand during England’s failed World-Cup campaign in September.
The Gloucester centre, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Philips, was captured on CCTV cameras talking and apparently flirting with a blonde woman in the Altitude bar after England’s victory against Argentina. Tindall, who has won more than 70 caps and was involved in the 2003 World Cup win, later issued an apology for misleading the England management over his movements that night, having initially claimed he did not go on to another bar.
“Mike Tindall’s actions reached a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player and amounted to a very serious breach of the EPS Code of Conduct. Whilst we acknowledge his previous good character it needs to be made clear that what he did will not be tolerated,” said Rugby Football Union director Rob Andrew, who led the investigation.
Second incident
In a separate incident three players were later accused of subjecting a female hotel employee to inappropriate sexual comments.
Andrew said the allegation was false and cleared Dylan Hartley, but gave warnings about future conduct and suspended fines to Chris Ashton and James Haskell.
Andrew said: “Regarding the events in Dunedin, it should be stressed that the allegations of very serious wrong-doing made against Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley and James Haskell by Annabel Newton, a member of staff at the team hotel, were entirely false.
“We do not believe the players had any intention to sexually harass or intimidate Ms Newton. However, the incident is precisely the kind of dangerous, compromising situation the players were warned about prior to departure for New Zealand and that they were specifically told to avoid in the EPS code of conduct.
“While we found that Dylan Hartley played no part in the ill-considered exchange with Annabel Newton, Chris Ashton and James Haskell’s behaviour on September 9 did breach the EPS code of conduct and they have each been given suspended fines of £5,000. If they commit any further breaches of the code before December 31, 2012 the fines will become due.”
The players have a right of appeal within three working days.