Rugby World Cup snub led to Royal wedding after unplanned bar meeting

08 September 2023 , 08:30

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Mike Tindall missed out on selection for the World Cup semi-final in 2003 - but that led him to his future wife

Mike Tindall was dropped for England's Rugby World Cup semi-final in 2003, but it began a series of events that led to his Royal wedding with Zara Phillips.

The former Bath and Gloucester centre was part of the touring squad that won the World Cup 20 years ago in Australia. Sir Clive Woodward dropped him for the last four clash against France though, and Tindall opted to drown his sorrows in a bar with some team-mates.

Zara and her older brother Peter, both massive rugby fans, headed down under to cheer on England and found themselves at a bar in Sydney. It would happen to be the same joint that Tindall and co were drinking with his major international snub leading to him to the woman he would become his wife.

He previously told the Daily Mail: "She was on her gap year and in Australia with friends. Clive (Woodward, the coach) had just told me I was dropped for the semi-final, so I went out for a beer with two others who weren't playing, Martin Corry and Austin Healey. Zara was in the same bar; we got introduced but didn't speak that much.

'"Later on, Austin gave me her number and said, 'She wants you to text her, to say where you're all going out after the final so she can come along.' Aussie's going to love me saying this - he'll take credit for us meeting."

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Tindall was on the bench for the semi-final victory over France with Mike Catt preferred before returning to the starting line-up for the final win over Australia, playing 79 minutes before coming off in a game made famous by Jonny Wilkinson's extra-time drop goal.

Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips tied the knot in 2011 (Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock)

Upon returning to the UK though, Zara extended an invite to a ball and from there the pair began spending more and more time together, eventually announcing their romance in 2004. "She said, 'Do you want to come to the North Cotswold Ball?'" Tindall recalled. "I said, 'Why not?' We became mates, really. Eventually it was one of those things where you realise you're spending all your time with someone, and it went to the next level."

Tindall would pop the question in 2010 with the pair marrying a year later. In 2014, Zara gave birth to their first child, Mia, with the former England star claiming it was “definitely the best day of my life.” The couple now have three children.

Tindall retired from rugby in 2014 having amassed 75 caps, scoring on his debut against Ireland in 2000. He would cross the whitewash on 14 occasions during his career with the last of those tries coming in 2011 as England beat Italy in the Six Nations.

Samuel Meade