Interview: England rugby legend Mike Tindall on Blackeye Gin and podcasting

Note: This is an excerpt of the Mike Tindall interview from Tempus’s spring issue starring Austin Butler. To access the full story, read along and grab a copy of the new issue available now.

A tough and tactical centre, Mike Tindall MBE, the England rugby legends, is known for his 75 national caps and, of course, playing a key role in England’s historic 2003 Rugby World Cup victory. He also won several Six Nations titles with successful stints with Bath and Gloucester, gaining a reputation for his leadership and physicality that secured him as a fan favourite.

Since hanging up his boots in 2014, Mike has found success in a variety of impactful ventures, including founding his highly acclaimed podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby in 2020 with former professional rugby player James Haskell and commentator Alex Payne. Outside of his work, Mike is father to Mia Grace, 11, Lena Elizabeth, seven, and four-year-old Lucas Philip, with royal Olympic equestrian Zara Tindall.In 2023 – inspired by a gin-fuelled recording that delighted fans – the trio ventured into the world of premium spirits with Blackeye Gin, a brand personifying rugby’s resilience and camaraderie. Combining craftsmanship with a philanthropic mission to support the future of the sport, and its players, this venture reflects their shared passion for the sport and storytelling beyond the pitch.

Not just another celebrity-founded drink, Blackeye Gin is a carefully crafted spirit, and in true pursuit of excellence, it’s been recognised for its quality, earning a Double Gold Medal at the prestigious 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. But what makes this gin stand out in a crowded market, and how does sporting legacy tie into its creation? Tindall tells all.How did Blackeye Gin begin?

We had been having some issues with our old podcast, so we did one of our episodes while drinking gin. It turned out to be one of our best performing episodes – our listeners loved it – and someone said we should just make our own so we could do it with gin we really loved. What started as a funny idea became one we took seriously, and Blackeye was born. It’s how all the best ideas come to being, isn’t it?

What was the process from suggestion to making it happen?
We collaborated with Hawkridge distillery and spent a day working with gin experts combining botanicals from the farm I live on for the first batch. Alex [Payne] then met with Simon Hunt, the former CEO of William Grant & Sons, who really helped us refine the concept, marrying it up with our passion for rugby, and giving us a charity focus.

Tell us about its mission, and the Blackeye Rugby Fund?
We understand the world and its challenges, especially for ex-players, and over time came up with the concept of the Blackeye Rugby Fund, with £1.50 of every bottle sold donated back to the game. Our aim is to tackle industry issues head-on and become the largest donor to rugby-related causes. We’re investing in looking after those who have been seriously injured, exploring insurance and protection for future injured players and funding research into ways to make the game safer for future generations. We’re also working with an advisory board made up of past and present rugby players and industry experts to help us run the fund and decide the direction of the investments for maximum impact and areas that are underrepresented but important.You were there at the very start of the podcast boom with House of Rugby, and The Good, The Bad and The Rugby – did you find the podcast served as a therapeutic outlet during lockdown?

Absolutely. Lockdown was an incredibly isolating time for everyone and having that sense of community and camaraderie was so important, and is what the sporting world is all about, really. We’re very grateful to have such loyal listeners who all come together around our shared passion for the game and gave us a reason to keep doing what we did.

Which have been your favourite episodes?
The episodes that go somewhere I’m not expecting. Efe Obada and Jamie Gillan who both play in the NFL [American Football] were great; the stories to get to the level they play at were so random and unique which was fascinating to discover. Also, James Waterhouse’s transition from rugby to being the [BBC News] correspondent on the ground in the Ukraine – again, it’s just such a different story and so interesting.

Read the full interview in our spring issue and check out more stories with Tempus