RFU paid tab for England night out

ENGLAND’S drunken night out in Queenstown, which may have cost Mike Tindall his international career, was part-funded by the Rugby Football Union.

The England management set up a tab at Queenstown’s Pub On The Wharf, where a group of players began the now-infamous evening. From there, a smaller group moved on to the Altitude Bar, a backpackers’ nightspot which was hosting a ‘Mad Midget Weekend’.

It was there that Tindall, who had captained England to victory over Argentina the previous night, was captured on CCTV in conversation with a blonde woman.

Tindall, who later apologised for misleading the England management over his movements that night, was fined £25,000 and dropped from the England squad.

It is understood the size of the fine takes into account the legal costs incurred by the RFU as they tried to manage the fall-out from the incident.

Tindall has announced his intention to appeal the decision.

England travelled to Queenstown the day after Tindall had captained them to a hard-fought victory over the Pumas in their opening World Cup group game.

The squad had been given that night and the following day off by the England management.

Manager Martin Johnson defended the decision to allow his players to go out, saying at the time: “Rugby player drinks beer, shocker.”

Johnson also stood up for Tindall when it emerged his former teammate had not returned to the team hotel immediately after leaving Altitude but moved on to another bar.