Aviva Premiership
Tindall linked with Biarritz switch
ESPNscrum Staff
January 15, 2012
Gloucester's Mike Tindall goes on the charge against the Falcons, Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester, Aviva Premiership, Kingston Park, Newcastle, England, December 2, 2011
Mike Tindall was left out of England's squad for the forthcoming Six Nations © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Iain Balshaw | Mike Tindall
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership | Top 14 Orange

England outcast Mike Tindall could be poised to quit English rugby altogether and join French side Biarritz, according to reports.

The 33-year-old Gloucester centre was left out of Stuart Lancaster's 32-man squad for the Six Nations earlier this week and is out of contract at Kingsholm at the end of the season. The Daily Mail reports that he has now opened talks with the Top 14 side in a move that would end any hope of an unlikely international return due to the Rugby Football Union's policy of not selecting overseas players.

Tindall, who won the last of his 75 caps in England's Rugby World Cup victory over Scotland, would later lose his place in the Elite Player Squad in the wake of a drunken night out in Queenstown earlier in the tournament but he was reinstated on appeal only to be left out of Lancaster's plans for this year's Championship.

On the domestic stage, Tindall featured in his side's narrow 20-14 Heineken Cup defeat to Harlequins on Saturday night but finds his place under increasing pressure due to the presence of young guns such as Henry Trinder. Director of rugby Bryan Redpath has refused to guarantee Tindall a new contract and has stated that the veteran has to fight to earn a new deal.

If Tindall, who joined Gloucester from West Country rivals Bath in 2005, was to switch to France then he would link up with close friend Iain Balshaw who served as best man at his recent wedding to the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips.

And Tindall responded on his Twitter account to the rumours saying: "never ever believe what read in the MoS not known for its factual info".

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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