Following in Dad’s footsteps! Mike Tindall reveals Lena, four, has started playing rugby

Mike Tindall has revealed how his youngest daughter Lena is playing rugby for their local team during an appearance on The One Show.

The former England Rugby Pro, 44, who is married to the Queen’s eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall, said his four-year-old has joined a local team for under sixes. 

But Mike, who previously spoke of how his eldest daughter Mia, eight, plays rugby for the same team, said: ‘It’s always hard through winter when it’s cold to get them out the door.’

He added: ‘I’ve found with the girls, that battle to still go and get muddy is still a battle. Once they are there, they’re okay.’

Mike is a former rugby union international who also played outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, having also won 75 caps for England between 2000 and 2011. 

Mike Tindall, 44, has revealed how his youngest daughter Lena is playing rugby for their local team during an appearance on The One Show

The former England Rugby Pro, 44, who is married to the Queen 's eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall , said his four-year-old has joined a local team for under sixes

The former England Rugby Pro, 44, who is married to the Queen ‘s eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall , said his four-year-old has joined a local team for under sixes

And after presenter Alex Jones quipped it was the same with boys, Mike said: ‘We’ll find out with Lucas, I’m judging that he’s not going to be an issue with getting muddy. He loves throwing himself around. We’ll see though!’

Appearing on the show, Mike explained that both his girls are playing rugby, saying they are in a weekly league. 

He said: ‘Lena’s just joined because she’s just four, she’s doing under sixes.

‘It’s always hard through winter when it’s cold to get them out the door. They love it when they get there but every rugby parent will know that battle.

‘I’ve found with the girls, that battle to still go and get muddy is still a battle. Once they are there, they’re okay.’

Mike previously revealed how his eldest daughter Mia had started to play rugby last year. 

Speaking on an episode of his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby last year, he said: ‘It’s always hard to get Mia to go, she’s like ‘I don’t like it’ and then you get there, and she’s off.’

Speaking on the podcast, Mike explained: ‘Mia scored a couple… it was an eight-all thriller in the first game and then a nine-all thriller in the second.’

Speaking about his daughter’s involvement in tag rugby, Mike later added: It’s funny how much she’s changed over the last, sort of, this year, since they’ve been back.

‘[She’s] figuring out how to avoid people because before they’d just all be really bunched in. 

Appearing on the show, Mike explained that both his girls are playing rugby, saying they are in a weekly league

Appearing on the show, Mike explained that both his girls are playing rugby, saying they are in a weekly league

The former rugby ace said he found it 'hard' to get his daughters Mia, eight, and Lena 'out the door' to play rugby and 'get muddy' during the winter

The former rugby ace said he found it ‘hard’ to get his daughters Mia, eight, and Lena ‘out the door’ to play rugby and ‘get muddy’ during the winter

Mike revealed he thinks his son Lucas 'loves throwing himself around' and adding he will 'not have an issue with getting muddy'

Mike revealed he thinks his son Lucas ‘loves throwing himself around’ and adding he will ‘not have an issue with getting muddy’

‘Now they’re getting more, where they run across but then they’re all stepping back, and people are just falling around.’

And the Tindall children aren’t the only royals who are currently playing rugby.

Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales revealed her youngest son Louis is ‘rugby mad’ on a visit to England’s wheelchair rugby league team to celebrate their World Cup title. 

As she told the team she and the family had watched the final on TV, the mother-of-three said the family loved competing against each other – particularly siblings Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The Princess, 41, said: ‘We’re always slightly competitive with each other. They all love sport and Louis is mad about rugby. 

‘They are at an age where they just love running around.’

And last year, Prince George revealed he learning is to play rugby at school.

Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales revealed her youngest son Louis is 'rugby mad', while George also plays the sport

Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales revealed her youngest son Louis is ‘rugby mad’, while George also plays the sport 

The little royal, who is the same age as Mia, said he is yet to take on his mother cheekily, telling Kate: ‘I haven’t tackled you yet’ after joining his parents at the England vs Wales Six Nations game at Twickenham Stadium.

The eight-year-old royal was spotted in the stands between Prince William and Kate who were in direct competition for what was the first match Kate attended since becoming patron of the Rugby Football Union.

Asked whether George would be supporting his mother or father’s team, the young prince shrugged his shoulders and smiled at William, who laughed: ‘It’s become quite the thing in the house,’ pointing at his wife, adding: ‘She is quite into it, I’m trying to stay out of it.’

Kate then asked George to tell the group about how he has started playing rugby at his school: ‘He has all the kit,’ she said.

George spoke about how he has just started learning how to tackle, before turning to his mother: ‘But I haven’t tackled you yet!’

Kate replied, laughing: ‘Yes you have!’ 

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