Tindall reinstated after appeal

World Cup winning centre Mike Tindall effectively won his appeal against a £25,000 fine and being dropped from the England Elite player squad on Monday when the fine was reduced to £15,000 and he was reinstated into the squad. The decision by acting...

World Cup winning centre Mike Tindall effectively won his appeal against a £25,000 fine and being dropped from the England Elite player squad on Monday when the fine was reduced to £15,000 and he was reinstated into the squad.

The decision by acting Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Martyn Thomas to ease the punishment for the 33-year-old for his antics during a night out in the New Zealand resort town of Queenstown during the World Cup will be another blow to the already damaged image of RFU’s elite rugby director Rob Andrew.

Andrew had led the original hearing and the punishment meted out to Tindall had been described as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” by the Rugby Players’ Association and they had supported the Gloucester back in his appeal.

Thomas – who will step down on December 16 after the RFU management board voted not to renew his contract earlier this month – said that Andrew had failed to take into account mitigating factors on the 75-times capped Tindall’s behalf.

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