Copyright walesonline
Mike Tindall could face a telling-off from some of the Royal Family's most prominent figures over a controversial venture that's seen resistance from "traditionalists", it's been claimed. The ex-professional rugby player, who played for Bath and Gloucester and earned 75 caps for England, has reportedly struck up plans for what's been dubbed a "break-away" rugby union franchise . His brainchild, R360, is planned as a worldwide rugby league featuring 12 franchises (made up of eight men's and four women's sides). According to rugby website Ruck, R360 is set to follow a "Grand Prix-style format" taking place in cities across the globe. However, the Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle reckons these bold ambitions could see Mike treading on the toes of his high-profile family, and not just any relatives, but the Firm's "big beasts". Ephraim even suggests he might be heading for a "Royal earbashing" and could face the fury of his wife Zara Tindall's mum, Anne, Princess Royal, who "only a fool would bet against". He penned: "Princess Anne's son-in-law, Mike Tindall, risks a Royal earbashing over his plan for R360, a break-away global rugby union franchise. It is opposed by national unions and rugby traditionalists. "They are threatening to ban players who sign potentially lucrative contracts from playing for their countries. Tindall, who earned 75 caps for England, is also taking on family big beasts who represent the status quo. "William is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union and Kate holds the role in England. He also risks the wrath of Princess Anne, long-time patron of the Scottish Rugby Union. In a ruck between the two, only a fool would bet against Anne.." In another Royal rugby revelation, back in May, it was reported that Zara had confessed to using a clandestine tactic to persuade Mike to address a health issue affecting his breathing. Zara, who spilled the beans at the London Sporting Club lunch, said she took action while Mike was fast asleep. Mike has broken his nose no less than eight times during his rugby career, which led to it losing its shape. However, his nose also led to a health problem, with Mike previously admitting he was having difficulty breathing due to these injuries. However, Mike would take some convincing to fix the problem. Zara told the Mail: "When he was playing, there was no point in doing it. But when I started to film him at night when he was sleeping and stopping breathing, I was like, "You see where I am coming from now?'" She added: "I am a really deep sleeper and I normally get to sleep before him. It is fixed now, better than what it was." Meanwhile, further proof that he wasn't keen on the idea of surgery came when he revealed on A League of Their Own that Princess Anne was worried enough about his nose to ask him to have surgery before he married her daughter. At first, he declined the offer, but later underwent plastic surgery for health reasons.
