Royal News Blog

Note: This article is from the Guardian. Rugby player Mike Tindall is the husband of Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Phillips.

This article titled “Mike Tindall reinstated in England elite squad and fine cut on appeal” was written by Robert Kitson, for The Guardian on Monday 28th November 2011 22.09 UTC

The judgment of senior Twickenham officials is under fresh scrutiny after Mike Tindall had his ejection from England’s elite squad dismissed on appeal. Tindall had his fine for his behaviour in Queenstown during the World Cup reduced from £25,000 to £15,000. The decision further erodes Rob Andrew’s position as the Rugby Football Union’s elite rugby director.

Tindall’s contract is due to finish at the end of next month and he is unlikely to be included in the Six Nations squad but this verdict is considerably less draconian than the original. The Rugby Players Association, which supported Tindall’s appeal, described the original sanction as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented”.

The decision handed down by Martyn Thomas, the acting RFU chief executive, did not exonerate the Gloucester centre but indicated that the punishment delivered by Andrew, following an investigation by Karena Vleck, the union’s legal and governance director, had been flawed.

“We accept there were mitigating factors which do not appear to have been taken into account to the extent that they might otherwise have been,” said Thomas. “Mike did not intentionally mislead the RFU team management when he stated he could not remember where he was on the night of 11 September and that he was relying on other people’s versions of events which were relayed to him.”

Thomas also said Tindall had been reprimanded for excessive drinking. He said: “There was no evidence of any suggestion of sexual impropriety of any nature with the woman in question and we accept the fact she is a family friend whom he has known for a long time.”

Thomas also took into account Tindall’s expression of “deep regret” during the appeal, as well as the apology he issued to Martin Johnson and the team “for the events which unfolded as a consequence”. His good off-field record during his Test career also counted in his favour, although the 33-year-old was not spared from criticism. “It is important to stress that we believe Mike’s behaviour fell way below that to be expected of somebody of his calibre and experience,” said Thomas. “He exposed himself to a very compromising position and exposed the rest of the team to damaging publicity.”

Tindall’s conduct may yet be taken into account when it comes to selection for the Six Nations squad. “We wish to make it clear that this decision does not prevent those deciding the composition of the EPS squad from taking into account this incident when making that decision,” said Thomas, who spent the weekend considering his verdict.

Andrew said Tindall’s conduct deserved serious censure and described his behaviour as “unacceptable” in his original statement. “We have considered all the evidence carefully and interviewed the players at length. These actions have not been taken lightly but we believe that in all these cases the sanctions are commensurate with the level of seriousness of what occurred,” he said this month. Others argued that Tindall was a scapegoat.

Whether or not the player extends his 75-cap career, during which he has scored 14 tries and earned an MBE for the 2003 World Cup triumph, the reduced sanction looks certain to heap further pressure on Andrew. The RFU management board meets on Tuesday to discuss leaks from the three reviews conducted into England’s World Cup failure. Andrew has made clear he does not consider himself entirely responsible for on-field problems but the management’s failure to deal adequately with the Queenstown fall-out and an incident involving a hotel chambermaid in Dunedin had significant effects.

With Johnson and the backs coach, Brian Smith, having resigned and Thomas set to leave the union next month, Andrew’s supporters argue that someone needs to stay to put in place short-term plans for the Six Nations. There is no question, however, that Tindall’s reinstatement further undermines the RFU’s battered credibility.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

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