Tindall would still answer England call from Lancaster

The 33-year-old Yorkshireman was initially excluded from England’s elite player squad and fined £25,000 by a Rugby Football Union panel last year over his off-field behaviour during the World Cup.

He was later reinstated and had the fine reduced to £15,000 on appeal, but he has not played for England since.

Tindall, part of the Gloucester side which suffered a shock defeat to Newcastle on Saturday, has not ruled out returning to the international fold and has had no indication from England head coach Stuart Lancaster that he is no longer in the reckoning.

He added: “I’m the sort of person who’d never say never to anything, and certainly not to England. It’s one of the proudest moments of your life when you represent your country, and if I am ever asked to play again, I will.”

After Tindall and company fell to their shock 29-20 defeat at Kingsholm, Newcastle coach Gary Gold hailed his players’ “amazing” character.

Falcons’ stunning victory was their first league away win since February last year and it closed the points gap on 11th-placed Wasps.

Newcastle, who have two games left against Saracens and then Wasps, can still avoid the drop after prevailing through tries by flanker Ally Hogg and replacement back-row Mark Wilson, and 19 points from the boot of captain Jimmy Gopperth.

Gloucester wiped out a 19-6 interval deficit to lead by a point with nine minutes left, but Newcastle finished strongly as Wilson’s touchdown secured victory.

“From a game-management point of view, we were very good in the first half. We pretty much stuck to plan perfectly, really,” said South African Gold.

“We lost our way a little bit in the second half, and if truth be told we got a little bit lucky with our last try, but the character of the players was amazing.

“This is a good bunch of rugby players who are really committed to keeping Premiership rugby in the north-east.

“Our work-rate off the ball was particularly good. The guys really put their hands up today. They don’t want to give up, they want to play in the Premiership next season.”

Gold, who assumed temporary control in January and will hand over the reins at Kingston Park to Dean Richards next term, admits Newcastle still face a tough task to stay up.

If Falcons finish bottom, their survival hopes will then rest on whether or not this season’s eventual Championship winners meet Premiership entry criteria.

“We are in a dire position,” Gold added. “We have been eight points adrift at the bottom of the table and we are playing the Premiership champions (Saracens) next. If we start worrying what is going on with others and the things we can’t control, we will lose our focus.

“I have always realised the magnitude of this challenge, and it hasn’t got any easier.”

Gloucester conjured a try for flanker Akapusi Qera, with fly-half Freddie Burns booting five penalties, but Gloucester’s hopes of Heineken Cup qualification were dented as they failed to secure a losing bonus point.

Gloucester’s top-six ambitions face a huge examination against Kingsholm visitors Sale on Saturday.