Tindall: 'She's just an old friend'

Tindall: 'She's just an old friend'

Sheepish England rugby player Mike Tindall has broken his silence over the blonde he was seen kissing and insisted: Shes just an old friend.

In a conversation with his father, the rugby star promised his marriage of just six weeks to the Queens granddaughter Zara Phillips was sound.

Video footage seen around the world shows the England captain fondling and kissing a young woman in a nightclub before grabbing her hand and leading her out. Mike, 32, rang his father Phil from New Zealand just hours before Englands World Cup game today to reassure him all was well.

Tindall, 64, said from the family home in Yorkshire: I spoke to Mike just this morning and he says she was an old friend and thats that. He is ignoring it and concentrating on his rugby.

England have got a game to prepare for and thats the most important thing. All the players and coaching staff are supporting Mike and ignoring this.

But he added Mike had not mentioned his 30-year-old wife.

The retired bank official said: We didnt speak about Zara at all. I dont think she is upset or has anything to be distressed about.

He said his son was being singled out because of his high-profile marriage but would never cheat. Tindall said: Its all just a fuss over nothing, which has only happened because of who Mike is married to.

Ive seen the pictures and must say I dont recognise the girl in the footage at all, but Ive been told shes a friend and I know nothing untoward would have happened.

The England team are ambassadors while they are in New Zealand and if people want to talk to them then they make themselves available.

A friend of the couple said last night: Mike and Zara are absolutely fine. Mike knows hes been a bit of a idiot and has said so to Zara. Hes well aware he was stupid to behave as he did, drinking and mucking around in a bar, even with an old friend.

A Gloucester Rugby Club source said: Everyone at the cl! ub is ta lking about this... even Mikes mates think hes been a bit of a prat. But it is unusual behaviour for Mike, who is not a regular big drinker. Its true that he does know the girl, who is known on the rugby circuit.

Tindall was caught on camera at the Altitude bar in New Zealand resort Queenstown with players including Ben Foden and Chris Ashton during a training break. The bar was offering 2 vodka shots during an evening of Midget Madness, with hired dwarves racing attached to bungee cords.

Yesterday world champion three-day eventer Zara looked pale and strained at horse trials in Ireland, part of her preparations for next years Olympics. Aides insist she is relaxed about Tindalls behaviour, and she still plans to fly to New Zealand in two weeks.

Meanwhile bar security chief Jonathan Dixon, 40, was yesterday charged over a video of the incident posted on YouTube.

He is accused of illegally accessing the footage from cameras at the bar. The video shows Tindall chatting with the woman, stroking her face and hair, holding her hand then wrapping a forearm around her throat in a hug.

She plants a lingering kiss on the top of his head for several seconds then pulls his face towards her breasts.

He repeatedly gestures towards the door, as though suggesting they leave, and is later seen wrestling with her playfully, holding her against the front of his body with an arm around her shoulders. A spokesman for Tindall and Zara said the woman was English, living in Australia and on holiday in New Zealand. She was an old friend of Mikes from 10 or 12 years ago who had been a guest at his wedding.

Tindall is being rested from Englands World Cup clash today with Georgia. England manager Martin Johnson said on Friday: Its up to Mike what he wants to do away from training and playing. - www.mirror.co.uk