RUGBY star Mike Tindall has hinted that he could propose to Zara Phillips after the 2012 Olympics - provided she wins a gold medal.

The Queen's granddaughter and world champion eventer has set her sights on Olympic gold in London in three years time.

And if she does won the coveted medal then Gloucester rugby player Mike has said he'll pop the question.

The news was revealed by former England rugby player Will Greenwood after the couple joined him on the Artemis Challenge boat race around the Isle of Wight.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Will says it was Mike who was talking passionately about horses rather than Zara.

"I am surprised when he talks of 'flying changes', 'rein backs', the four-star horses, and the promise that an Olympic gold medal might, if she's lucky, be exchanged for a wedding ring", he says.

Mike recently told Hello! magazine that there was "no doubt" he loved Zara and he would like to have children.

The couple recently bought a £800,000 house together in Cheltenham.

Zara, 28, daughter of the Princess Royal, met Mike, 30, in a Sydney bar during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.