England's Mike Tindall on the charge during the 2003 World Cup final © PA Photos

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Mike Tindall, who was released by Gloucester at the end of the season, has confirmed his retirement from the game. He was the last of the England side which won the 2003 World Cup to quit the game.

Tindall, 35, made his England debut in 2000 and won the last of his 75 caps at the ill-fated 2011 Rugby World Cup when his off-the-field antics contributed to a wretched campaign. It was an unfitting end for a player who had been at the heart of many of England's successes in the previous decade and who had captained the side earlier in the year.

He played in all but one of the matches at the 2003 World Cup. He was dropped for the semi-final victory over France in favour of Mike Catt, whose kicking game was preferred in wet conditions, but reinstated for the final victory over hosts Australia.

And then there were none

• A full 3888 days have passed since England lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy on that famous night in Sydney and now all of the players who had some role in the World Cup win have called time on their playing careers. Following Friday's announcement that Iain Balshaw has been forced to hang up his well-worn boots, just Mike Tindall remained but on Tuesday, he too decided it was time for him to take a place in the shadows.
• At the end of last season Tindall hinted he was pondering retiring from the game to take up a full-time role in Gloucester's backs but then Nigel Davies was sacked and a new-look backroom team at the Cherry and Whites was brought in by director of rugby David Humphreys. Tindall was a free agent. He managed to play 24 games last season and so would have been an attractive option for teams both near and far in both an on and off-field capacity but he has decided to bow out at the top.
• Read the full feature here

Tindall had wanted to remain as a player-coach at Gloucester - who he joined in 2005 from Bath, where he had made his debut in 1997 - but the coaching shake-up there had left him without a role.

"I could play two more years if I really wanted to but club rugby is a very special thing for me, it's what I love about the game," he told theGloucester Citizen. "International rugby and the Lions are great but club rugby is your bread and butter and dictates where you go in your life. You have to buy into that. I always wanted to be a one-club man but that didn't happen. But I was very lucky to be at two great clubs in Gloucester and Bath.

"Obviously Gloucester is closer to my heart because of the way it finished and I was here for a year longer. And I want to thank them both for all they have done for me.

"I had to ask myself if I wanted to go and play somewhere else. Can you get emotionally attached to another club? Because that is the pull of club rugby for me. I don't think you can. I always say 'never say never' but I wouldn't have thought I will be back. You have to face the big bad world sometime and now is the right time to do that."

Tindall, who was listed in newspapers at the weekend as being a millionaire thanks to property deals, is married to Zara Phillips.

"What this has given me is an opportunity to have a year away from that and have a look at what else is out there. I'll go to games at Gloucester and I will still be a fan. It's been a great club, the fans have been brilliant, we have some good banter and it's been a great part of my life since 2005."

@miketindall13 congrats mate great career. Wished it happened years ago. Would of saved my shoulders a while ago Enjoy retirement

— Matt Giteau (@giteau_rugby) July 15, 2014

Mike Tindall bids farewell to Kingsholm after his last matchy © Getty Images

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