BAD NEWS: Mike Tindall shares sad family news after a long battle with illness ends in d@ath.
Mike Tindall has announced the death of his father Phil, who passed away last week aged 79 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The former England rugby star shared the heartbreaking news during the latest episode of The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, which he hosts alongside James Haskell and Alex Payne.
Towards the end of the programme, Payne introduced a final section focused on fathers before Mike revealed the loss.
“Unfortunately, my dad passed away last week,” the 47-year-old said.
Mike, who is married to Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne, then paid tribute to his father and thanked the rugby club where Phil had once played.
Otley Rugby Club Pays Tribute to Phil
Phil Tindall had previously captained Otley Rugby Club in West Yorkshire during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.
Before the club’s match against Chester last weekend, players and supporters observed a minute’s silence in his memory.
Mike said he had been sent footage of the tribute and had also read a piece about his father in the match programme.
“Big shout-out to Otley Rugby Club,” he said.
“They played Chester on the weekend, and they did a minute’s silence to my dad, who was captain in ’72, ’73.”
He continued: “That little moment, I got to watch it. Someone recorded it, sent it to me, and then they wrote a little thing in the programme as well, which I read.”
Mike then offered his thanks directly to the club.
“But thank you very much to Otley Rugby Club for it.”
Mike Shares Memory From His Father’s Rugby Days
During the podcast, Mike also recalled one story from his father’s younger years.
Phil married Mike’s mother Linda in 1969, but suffered an unfortunate injury just days before the wedding.
Mike explained: “He got married in 69, broke his leg the week before, went down the aisle in a cast.”
He added: “I mean, it sort of all went wrong. He had to retire at 27.”
The injury brought an early end to Phil’s rugby career, although his connection with the sport remained an important part of his life.
More Than Two Decades With Parkinson’s
Phil was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003.
That same year, Mike played a key role in England’s Rugby World Cup victory in Australia.
Phil went on to live with the condition for more than two decades.
His diagnosis had a major impact on Mike, who has since become closely involved in fundraising and awareness work linked to Parkinson’s research.
Mike has served as a patron of Cure Parkinson’s since 2018 and has regularly supported campaigns and fundraising efforts connected with the organisation.
Parkinson’s Became an Important Cause for Mike
Over the years, Mike has spoken openly about his father’s condition and the effect it had on the family.
His involvement with Cure Parkinson’s became one of his most personal charitable commitments, with Phil’s experience helping drive his support for research into the disease.
The latest podcast offered Mike an opportunity not only to announce his father’s death, but also to remember the parts of Phil’s life that meant so much to him.
From his years as captain of Otley Rugby Club to the stories Mike shared from his younger days, Phil’s connection with rugby remained at the heart of the tribute.
And after receiving the recording of the minute’s silence held in his father’s honour, Mike made clear how much the gesture had meant to him and his family.
Phil Tindall died aged 79 after more than 20 years living with Parkinson’s disease.
