Mike Tindall, a former rugby player and part of the royal family, has been awarded three medals since his marriage to Zara in 2011.
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The first medal, an MBE, was given to him in December 2003 for his contribution to rugby after helping the England team win the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The other two medals were awarded to him for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond and Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
According to reports, he is expected to wear all three medals during King Charles' coronation.
In response to public criticism after wearing the medals to The Queen's funeral, Tindall spoke about his dislike for wearing them on his podcast, 'The Good, The Bad & The Rugby', which he hosts with fellow former rugby player James Haskell and Alex Payne.
He stated, "It has been an interesting one. We’ve had this discussion on the fact that I hate wearing them anyway.
"I think you would be the same because you class medals as a military honour. Any serviceman, I am deeply appreciative of your service, and I have not served anywhere and actually haven’t done anything to achieve those medals apart from being in the family."
Tindall went on to explain why he was awarded the medals, saying: "So the jubilee medals, obviously I got married in 2011, so 2012 was the diamond jubilee, and you get a medal if you’re part of the family. The people who work in her household get a medal, and if you’ve been serving in the armed forces for five years and you’re actively in service, you get one too.
"So it’s harder for people in the military to actually get a jubilee medal unless they served for a long time. There’s been a lot more as you get a lot more celebrations later in life, so 50, 60, 70, that’s where I got one, and the other one was my MBE."
The Richest Rugby Couples in 2026 (Ranked 10-1)
Here’s our ranking of the top 10 richest rugby couples in 2026 — counting up from the most modest fortunes to the biggest bank balances.
Wealthiest Rugby Couples:
10. David Pocock & Emma Palandri – £1.5 million
Former Australian rugby star David Pocock and his wife, Emma Palandri, have diversified their wealth through post-rugby careers. Pocock is now an Australian senator, while Palandri co-founded social enterprise projects focusing on sustainable development.
9. Nigel Owens & Barrie Jones-Davies – £2 million
Nigel Owens, Welsh former rugby referee, is a motivational speaker, commentator, and farmer. Together with his partner, Barrie Jones-Davies, they’ve cultivated a modest fortune built on Owens’ post-rugby ventures.
8. Owen Farrell & Georgie Farrell – £3 million
England captain Owen Farrell and his wife, Georgie Farrell, an events manager, have accumulated a solid fortune through rugby salaries and personal business ventures.
7. Bryan Habana & Janine Viljoen – £8 million
South African rugby legend Bryan Habana and entrepreneur Janine Viljoen have grown their wealth through sports, media appearances, and business initiatives.
From business ventures and endorsements to philanthropy and royal connections, these power couples exemplify success in every arena.
6. Siya & Rachel Kolisi – £10 million
World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi and Rachel Kolisi, co-founder of the Kolisi Foundation, are currently navigating a divorce. Their combined wealth stems from rugby, endorsements, and philanthropic ventures that uplift underprivileged communities.
5. Dan & Honor Carter – £12 million
All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter, three-time World Rugby Player of the Year, and his wife, Honor Carter, former Black Ferns hockey player, have built a fortune through rugby and business ventures.
4. Richie & Gemma McCaw – £15 million
Two-time Rugby World Cup champion Richie McCaw and his wife Gemma McCaw, former Black Sticks hockey player, have amassed wealth through sports, endorsements, and philanthropic work.
3. Jonny Wilkinson & Shelley Jenkins – £20 million
England hero Jonny Wilkinson and his wife Shelley Jenkins have grown their fortune post-retirement through media appearances, business ventures, and strategic endorsements.
2. Sonny Bill & Alana Williams – £22 million
Versatile athlete Sonny Bill Williams and Alana Williams, former model and businesswoman, have diversified wealth from rugby, rugby league, boxing, and endorsements.
1. Mike & Zara Tindall – £25 million
Mike Tindall, former England captain, and Zara Tindall, Olympic equestrian and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, top the list. Mike enjoys a successful media career, while Zara remains active in equestrian sports and business, making them rugby’s wealthiest power couple.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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