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Mike Tindall retires: Centre become the last of England's 2003 World Cup team to retire

The 35-year-old won 75 caps for his country

Agency
Tuesday 15 July 2014 11:40 BST
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Mike Tindall has retired
Mike Tindall has retired

Mike Tindall has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The 35-year-old, who helped England win the World Cup in 2003, has decided to hang up his boots after almost two decades in the game with Bath and Gloucester.

He said on his official Twitter feed: "After 17 years it's time to retire from rugby, I have been lucky to play with/against some great players, two great clubs and had some amazing times. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through my career!"

Tuesday's announcement comes four days after Iain Balshaw confirmed his retirement after failing to recover from a knee injury, leaving Tindall as the only member of England's World Cup-winning squad still active.

However, Tindall has now also decided to call it a day.

The Otley-born back, who married the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips in 2011, started his career with Bath in 1997 and spent eight seasons at the Rec before moving to their West Country rivals Gloucester.

Tindall spent almost a decade at Kingsholm and became player-coach following the arrival of director of rugby Nigel Davies in 2012.

While he had not been offered a playing contract at the Cherry and Whites for next season, Tindall had the chance to become the club's full-time backs coach, but the sacking of Davies in May and subsequent appointment of Nick Walshe as backs and attack specialist left that proposal void.

Tindall played 75 matches for England.

PA

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