MIKE TINDALL MAY be preparing to become an extended member of Britain’s royal family but he’s not willing to sacrifice his playing career just yet, indicating that he will be available for selection by Martin Johnson just days after his wedding.
The Gloucester and England centre is due to marry Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, on July 30 in Edinburgh.
The pair, who met in Australia during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, announced their engagement shortly before Christmas.
If Tindall does intend to celebrate his marriage by taking his new bride on a honeymoon, it will have to be curtailed dramatically as the 32-year-old intends to feature in England’s World Cup warm-up campaign which kicks off just seven days after the wedding.
The Six Nations champions’ first game will be on August 6 against Wales in Twickenham, followed by a return fixture in Cardiff before a warm-up game against Ireland in Dublin at the end of the month.
Though Martin Johnson might have realistically expected to be without the centre for the Welsh match, he told reporters that Tindall had made himself available.
He spoke to me and said, ‘I’m getting married at the end of July.’ I said that obviously that was a week before the first (warmup) game, and he said, ‘Right, I’m available for the first game.’
That was the way he left it. He said he’d be available but we can have that conversation closer to the time.
Tindall missed out on England’s Grand Slam disappointment on Saturday after he was sidelined through injury. It now appears that he will be out of action for up to twelve weeks as he is scheduled to have surgery on his damaged ankle ligaments.
