Mike Tindall suffers huge blow amid controversial career move away from royals

Mike Tindall has suffered a huge career blow after his latest move has seemingly not gone down well. The former rugby player, who is a member of the Royal Family through his marriage to theKing's niece Zara, has revealed he is spearheading a new breakaway rugby franchise called R360.

The proposal says it will transfrom the sport like never before and aims to deliver a "generational change in rugby". The plans involve creating 12 new franchise sides, each packed with the world's top rugby stars. Last week, Mike told players that funding for the next three years of the tournament had been secured, with the first one set to take place next September.

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However, both the International Rugby Players Association, which represents leading international players, as well as the Rugby Football Union, are said to have objected to the plans. It has been reported that the RFU may even bar players who sign up to the new R360 from playing for England.

Previously explaining why he's backing the project, Mike explained: "Rugby is feeling the fallout of the last few years with financial mismanagement, declining investment in the club game and a product that is struggling to evolve.

"Clubs around the world are feeling the strain and are being propped up by the international game. Rugby's lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market."

Mike made 75 appearances for the England rugby team and was party of the victorious squad that won the 2003 World Cup in Australia.

His love story with Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne, also dates back to this time, when it was Zara's cousin, Prince Harry, who introduced her to former England international rugby star.

It came after Mike had been drowning his sorrows in a Sydney bar after being dropped for the England team's semi-final match, when he was introduced to the now 22nd in line to the throne.

After their chance meeting and Mike returning to the team for the final to win the tournament, they returned to the UK - and Zara extended an invite to her new love interest to a ball and from there the pair began spending more and more time together, eventually announcing their romance in 2004.

Mike, who has appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, then popped the question back in 2010, and a year later, they married in a beautiful ceremony in Edinburgh attended by the entire Royal Family with Zara wearing a stunning gown by Stewart Parvin, a favourite designer of her beloved grandmother, the late Queen.

Speaking about their romance, Mike previously said: "I've never been in love before, but Zara is the love of my life. No doubt."