Skip to main content

Beta testing. Real payments work with crypto only. Card payments (Stripe) are test-only for now.

Back to news
Rugby Union
2 min read

Tindall Kids' Bedtime Battles: Ankle Taps and Royal Legacy

Mike Tindall reveals the competitive nature of his children, who use rugby-inspired 'ankle taps' in bedtime races. The former England player also discusses his father's Parkinson's and his transition from a banking family in Yorkshire to life in Windsor Castle.
Tindall Kids' Bedtime Battles: Ankle Taps and Royal Legacy

⏱80 sec. here / 11 min. at publisher

📊News: 63% · Publisher: 68%

With a Rugby World Cup winner for a father and an Olympic medal-winning equestrian for a mother, the Tindall children were always going to have a steely streak of competitiveness.

And it seems that Mike and Zara Tindall are determined to put their youngsters – Mia, 12, Lena, eight, and five-year-old Lucas – through their paces, even when it comes to bedtime. Mr Tindall, 47, told the Henley Literature Festival: 'Even if it's just a race upstairs to bed, there will be ankle taps.

'It might lead to a broken leg one day, but they will learn. Hopefully the children will turn out like us.

'And if they are as competitive as their mother, then we are all f****d! ' Ankle taps are an innocuous-sounding but formidable defensive tackling technique that Mr Tindall would frequently use on the rugby field. This fighting spirit is something the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star says that he inherited from his father, Philip, who passed away two weeks ago after a 25-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

Mr Tindall grew up in a middle-class family in Yorkshire – his father was a Barclays bank manager – before going on to win 75 caps for England as a rugby union player. Mike Tindall said his children have taken to ankle taps in the race upstairs at bedtime Appearing alongside James Haskell and Alex Payne, his co-presenters on the podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, Mr Tindall also addressed his journey from Wakefield to Windsor Castle.

He married Zara Phillips, Princess Anne's daughter, in 2011 in Edinburgh – and joked that his story could be made into a television series. When asked about it on the podcast by Mr Haskell, he replied: 'It's the making of a great story isn't it? 'Waiting for Netflix on that one. '

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

Tindall Children Mike Tindall Zara Phillips Ankle Taps Rugby Competition Parkinson's Royal Family

Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

The Draconids peak next week: Finally, a meteor shower that respects bedtimeSpotting meteors is hard when you work for a living. Cue the Draconids, which are best seen right after dark on their peak night this week.Read more »

Halle Berry accusations explained: Timeline of legal battles with ex-husbandHalle Berry allegedly 'physically attacked and choked' her 12-year-old son.Read more »

Hot Toys Reveals Avengers: Doomsday Doctor Doom Figure as RDJ's Villain Battles Fantastic FourHot Toys has announced an Avengers: Doomsday collectible featuring Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, limited to 3000 units, ahead of the film's December release.Read more »

UFO Whistleblower Claims Alien Battles Caused CrashesUFO whistleblower David Grusch claims at least a dozen craft crashed during apparent battles between gray and reptilian aliens, leaving Joe Rogan stunned.Read more »

Comments0

Your sport, all in one place

Rugby Union

Follow the stories, and hear of new ones in your feed and notifications.

Picks to explore

All Rugby Union picks

About this story and its source

Who published the story, when it came out, and where to read more.

It was published on October 4, 2026 and last updated on October 9, 2026. The time of the story is shown in your own time zone on the page.

Open the Rugby Union news for more stories, or see the matches with analyst picks and the list of analysts to compare their records before you buy a pick.