Mike Tindall has been reinstated to the England elite player squad and had his fine reduced to £15,000 following an appeal.
Centre also has fine reduced to £15,000 following appeal
Mike Tindall has been reinstated to the England elite player squad and also had his fine reduced from £25,000 to £15,000 following an appeal, the RFU announced on Monday.
The Gloucester centre launched the appeal in response to the punishment the Rugby Football Union had meted out for his off-field behaviour at the recent World Cup.
Tindall, whose appeal was heard by acting RFU chief executive Martyn Thomas, received backing from the Rugby Players' Association, with many people feeling he had been made a scapegoat for England's poor tournament in New Zealand.
The RFU confirmed on Monday night that his appeal had been successful - albeit not to a full extent.
An RFU statement read: "Mike Tindall's fine for breaches of the England elite player squad agreement during the 2011 Rugby World Cup has been reduced from £25,000 to £15,000 and he has been reinstated into the England Elite Player Squad."
The RPA described Tindall's fine as "unprecedented" and "extraordinary" and yet the appeal verdict means the 2003 World Cup winner now has the chance to try and salvage his international career.
The initial sanction came after RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew and legal and governance director Karena Vleck took evidence earlier this month about the 33-year-old's behaviour with a woman at the Altitude bar in Queenstown.
Tindall, who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, heard his behaviour described as unacceptable. The 75 times-capped player was also deemed to have misled England management in that he did not tell them he went to another bar.
Deep regret
But in announcing his decision - it follows an appeal hearing held at a secret location last week - Thomas said he felt mitigating factors did not appear to have been taken into account "to the extent that they might otherwise have been".
Thomas countered: "Mike did not intentionally mislead the RFU team management when he stated that he could not remember where he was on the night of September 11, and that he was relying on other people's versions of events which were relayed to him.
"There was no evidence of any suggestion of sexual impropriety of any nature with the woman in question, and we accept the fact that she is a family friend who he has known for a long time.
"Mike expressed deep regret during the appeal meeting about his behaviour, and that he had apologised to (former England manager) Martin Johnson and the team for the events which unfolded as a consequence.
"There was no evidence that Mike had been involved in any incidences in the past which could contribute as aggravating factors."
Thomas continued: "Taking all these factors into account we have decided to reduce the fine to £15,000 and reverse the decision to remove Mike from the England elite player squad.
"It is, however, important to stress that we believe Mike's behaviour fell way below that to be expected of somebody of his calibre and experience.
"He exposed himself to a very compromising position and exposed the rest of the team to damaging publicity.
"We are aware that the EPS squad will be reviewed on January 1, 2012, and wish to make it clear that this decision does not prevent those deciding the composition of the EPS squad from taking into account this incident when making that decision."
Stuart Lancaster is expected to be appointed as England caretaker coach for the RBS Six Nations Championship, which begins on the opening weekend of February, following Johnson's departure.
Whether there is a cull of some senior players after the World Cup flop remains to be seen, but Tindall is at least available for selection again.
Under fire
The appeal verdict will also serve as further ammunition for critics of Andrew, who has come under sustained fire during the past week after three damning reports into England's shambolic World Cup campaign on and off the pitch were leaked to
The Times. An investigation is under way to find the leak's source.
Andrew has been forced to defend his own position, especially in the wake of Johnson's exit, but he has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of stepping down.
The RFU management board will on Wednesday discuss recommendations from the Professional Game Board following the World Cup, with the PGB basing their findings on reports from the RFU - compiled by Andrew - RPA and Premiership Rugby.
A statement from RPA chief executive Damian Hopley read: "Whilst we still believe the fine is excessive and disproportionate to the factual events of that night in Queenstown, we are relieved that Mike has been reinstated into the full England EPS Squad.
"We have always maintained that the original judgement was misguided and mishandled and it is our assertion that Mike has been unfairly treated as a scapegoat on this matter.
"The reduction in the fine and reinstatement into the full England EPS Squad confirms this.
"Our main issue is that this matter should have been dealt with at the time by the relevant senior RFU personnel who were on the ground in New Zealand.
Worrying precedent
"To have this incident playing out very publically in the media 10 weeks after the event sets a very worrying precedent for future tours, and we will be taking up this matter with the RFU to ensure that these situations are not repeated.
"The significant reputational damage to all the parties involved in this matter is something that we feel could have been avoided with the appropriate action taken at the time.
"In attempting to move forward from this matter, the RPA totally accepts the need for our members to fully take responsibility for their actions whilst representing both club and country, and there are valuable lessons that have been learnt throughout this RWC campaign.
"By addressing these issues through ongoing education and support, we remain confident that rugby union in England can recover from what have been some of the most damaging months in its history."
