Mike Tindall has accused the Rugby Football Union (RFU) of making him a scapegoat for England's disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign.
Tindall was fined 25,000 pounds and removed from England's elite player squad for engaging in a drinking session following a group match in Queenstown at the rugby showpiece.
After a successful appeal, Tindall was reinstated into the squad and had his fine reduced to 15,000 pounds.
The 33-year-old released a statement on Tuesday criticising the RFU for their handling of the matter.
"I am deeply disappointed by the way the RFU has chosen to handle the situation," Tindall's statement read.
"I have felt throughout the disciplinary process that my case was made unnecessarily political and public by the RFU and that I ended up being made a scapegoat."
"Yesterday's decision (to reduce the punishment) goes some way to reflect a fairer assessment of what actually happened during the World Cup."
Tindall said he felt vindicated by his upheld appeal, before admitting he was out of line on the infamous night out.
"It had been suggested that I intentionally misled people in relation to the events in Queenstown and I am pleased following this appeal process that it has been made clear that I did not do so," the statement continued.
"I feel somewhat vindicated by the decision to reinstate me back into the elite player squad."
"While I accept the decision made by the disciplinary appeal panel last night I still maintain that the level of fine is not in line with other RFU disciplinary cases."
"I absolutely accept my share of responsibility for what happened in Queenstown and that I drank too much that night."
England bowed out at the quarter-final stage of the Rugby World Cup to eventual finalists France.