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Ben Youngs

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Ben Youngs
Youngs representing Leicester Tigers during the Heineken Cup
Full nameBenjamin Ryder Youngs
Date of birth (1989-09-05) 5 September 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthAylsham, England
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
SchoolGresham's School
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
Notable relative(s)Nick Youngs (father)
Tom Youngs (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006– Leicester Tigers 322 (230)
Correct as of 15 December 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2009 England U20 15 (20)
2010 England Saxons 1 (0)
2010–2023 England 127 (100)
2013 British & Irish Lions 2 (0)
Correct as of 29 October 2023

Benjamin Ryder Youngs (born 5 September 1989) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers, and is the all time appearance record holder with 127 caps for the England national team.[1]

He made his club debut at 17 in 2007 and in 2010 made his debut for England; in 2022 he became England men’s most capped player with 115 appearances subsequently earning 127 in total. He started the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final and toured Australia with the Lions in 2013. Youngs has been a Premiership Rugby champion five times, winning in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and in 2022.

Early life

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Youngs was born 5 September 1989 in Aylsham, Norfolk, England. His older brother Tom Youngs is also a rugby player, for Leicester Tigers as a hooker. His father Nick Youngs played scrum-half for both Leicester and England.[2]

Youngs is married to Charlotte. They have two children, son Boris and daughter Billie.[3]

Club career

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Youngs made his Leicester Tigers first team début on 11 February 2007 in a friendly match against Argentina at Welford Road, the match marked Graham Rowntree's final Leicester appearance.[4] On 24 April 2007 at the age of 17 years and 231 days he became Leicester's youngest ever player used in a league match when he came off the bench against Bristol.[5][6][7] Later that season, he played in the final of the 2006–07 Guinness Premiership.[8][7]

Youngs played 10 games for Leicester in the 2007–08 season, principally whilst Harry Ellis was injured. Despite starting only 2 games, but featuring in 17, Youngs finished third in the 2008–09 Guinness Premiership Discovery of the Season award[7][9] and won the club's player's young player of the year award.[10]

Youngs was instrumental in Leicester's 22–17 defeat of the Springboks in a tour match on 6 November 2009 kicking 17 points.[11] He was able to establish himself as first choice in 2009–10 season starting 23 games. In February 2010, Youngs signed a new contract.[12] His teammates voted him Leicester Tigers Player of the Season for 2009/10.[13] In a season littered with awards, he also picked up the Land Rover Discovery of the Season award.[14] He crowned off the season by playing in the 2009–10 Guinness Premiership final victory over Saracens, scoring a try in the process.[15]

Youngs has also played in losing Premiership finals in 2011 and 2012, as well as starting in the 2013 final where Leicester defeated Northampton to seal their 10th English championship.[16]

On 8 April 2017 in a game against Bath at Twickenham Youngs made his 200th appearance for Leicester.[17] Following Leicester's home game with Newcastle Youngs was presented with an engraved silver picture frame in recognition of the feat.[18] Youngs made his 250th appearance for Leicester Tigers on 13 September 2020 in a match against Northampton Saints played at an empty Welford Road Stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Youngs scored a try in a 28–24 win for Leicester.[19][20]

Youngs played as a replacement in the 2022 Premiership Rugby final as Tigers beat Saracens 15-12.[21]

In 2024, he underwent a two-hour open heart surgery operation to treat supraventricular tachycardia and another unspecified arrhythmia, conditions he had been suffering from for some time, after collapsing during a game in Leicester's stadium.[22]

International career

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England

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Youngs has played for England U-16, U-18 and in March 2008 was a member of the England under-20 team that won the grand slam.[23] Later that month, Youngs made his debut for the England Sevens team at the Hong Kong sevens.[24] Youngs played in the final of both the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship.[25] and 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.[26] He was selected for the revised England Saxons Squad on 13 January 2010, and upgraded to the revised Senior Squad as injury cover for Harry Ellis on 25 January 2010.[27] Later that month, he made his debut for the England Saxons, against Ireland A.[28]

Youngs made his senior England debut as a substitute on the wing for the injured Ugo Monye in the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland on 13 March 2010,[29] and was an unused replacement in the match against France.[30] He continued as part of the senior squad on their tour of Australia, and played in both Test matches.

Youngs made his first international start in England's 21 – 20 win over Australia in Sydney, on 19 June 2010. He played an important role in improving the England gameplan in the game, and scored a solo try in the first half.[31] On 13 November 2010, Youngs was awarded man of the match award for his outstanding performance against Australia.[32] Youngs continued to be a steadfast member of the England squad, including call ups for the 2011,[33] 2015[34] and 2019 Rugby World Cups.

After Eddie Jones replaced Stuart Lancaster as England head coach after the 2015 RWC, Youngs continued to play a crucial role in the England squad, being one of two ever-present scrum-halves, along with Danny Care. Youngs played in all but one (vs Uruguay) of England's record-equaling run of 18 consecutive wins,[35] starting 15 of them.

This run included the 2016 Grand Slam achieved through a win against the French in Paris,[36] avenging the defeat to Ireland in a match of similar importance in 2011, in addition to being part of the side that secured a 3-0 series triumph against Australia only a couple of months after the tournament ended. Later in the year, he put in some of his most memorable performances against South Africa and again against Australia in that year's Autumn Internationals, scoring and assisting several tries using his trademark show-and-go off the base of a ruck.

Youngs was part of further Six Nations victories in 2017 and 2020, scoring two tries in the 2020 title decider against Italy to mark his 100th cap in style. Youngs is only the second Englishman to reach this number after Jason Leonard, and immediately went on to win a further four caps in the inaugural Amazon Autumn Nations Cup [37] as England secured their second piece of silverware of the year. Youngs has said that the enforced break from rugby due to the Coronavirus crisis left him refreshed and recharged, and has stated his aim is to be a part of the England team for the 2023 World Cup in France, which would mark his fourth such tournament having been a part of the 2011, 2015 and 2019 squads.

As of 26 February 2022, Youngs became England's most capped international player, surpassing Jason Leonard's record of 114 caps.

On 7 August 2023, Youngs was named in England's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[38] He announced his retirement shortly before winning his 127th cap against Argentina in the third place playoff. "Honour and privilege" - Ben Youngs set for left field career change following retirement

British & Irish Lions

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In April 2013, Youngs was announced as one of three scrum-halves for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia alongside Mike Phillips and Conor Murray.[39] He made 2 capped appearances, off the bench for the first test in Brisbane,[40] and then starting the second test in Melbourne alongside his brother Tom Youngs.[41] He also made uncapped appearances against 5 provincial sides, scoring 2 tries.

Youngs was again selected as one of the three scrum-halves in April 2017 for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, alongside previous tourist Conor Murray and newcomer Rhys Webb, with Leicester Tigers teammate Dan Cole also being selected again.[42] However, on 6 May 2017, Youngs withdrew himself from the tour party due to family reasons and was replaced by Scotland international Greig Laidlaw.[43]

Career statistics

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List of international tries

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As of 17 November 2021[44]
Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Australia Sydney, Australia ANZ Stadium 19 June 2010 Win 21 – 20
2  Argentina Dunedin, New Zealand Forsyth Barr Stadium 2011 Rugby World Cup 10 September 2011 Win 13 – 9
3  Romania Dunedin, New Zealand Forsyth Barr Stadium 2011 Rugby World Cup 24 September 2011 Win 67 – 3
4  Ireland London, England Twickenham Stadium 2012 Six Nations 17 March 2012 Win 30 – 9
5  South Africa Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium 16 June 2012 Loss 27 – 36
6
7  Italy London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Six Nations 14 February 2015 Win 47 – 17
8  France London, England Twickenham Stadium 2015 Six Nations 21 March 2015 Win 55 – 35
9
10  Wales London, England Twickenham Stadium 29 May 2016 Win 27 – 13
11  Australia London, England Twickenham Stadium 2016 Autumn Internationals 3 December 2016 Win 37 – 21
12  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2017 Six Nations 11 February 2017 Win 21 – 16
13  Italy Newcastle upon Tyne, England St James's Park 6 September 2019 Win 37 – 0
14  Argentina Tokyo, Japan Ajinomoto Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 5 October 2019 Win 39 – 10
15  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico 2020 Six Nations 31 October 2020 Win 34 – 5
16
17  Wales Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2021 Six Nations 27 February 2021 Loss 24 – 40
18  Ireland Dublin, Ireland Aviva Stadium 2021 Six Nations 20 March 2021 Loss 18 – 32
19  Tonga London, England Twickenham Stadium 2021 Autumn Internationals 6 November 2021 Win 69 – 3
20

Honours

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British & Irish Lions
  • 1× Test Series Win: 2013
England
Leicester Tigers

References

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  1. ^ "RFU Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  2. ^ Hands, David (12 January 2010). "Youngs brothers prove adaptable while following in father's footsteps at Leicester". London: Times Online site. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  3. ^ Kitson, Robert (10 November 2017). "Ben Youngs: 'When we found out the dreadful news, rugby wasn't important'". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Leicester Tigers 21 - 41 Argentina". 11 February 2007. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Bristol 30–13 Leicester". BBC Sport. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  6. ^ "White becomes Tigers' youngest Premiership player". 28 October 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs shocked by England call". 10 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Leicester crush Gloucester in Premiership finale". ESPN Scrum. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  9. ^ "Top award is for the whole team - Cockerill". 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Vesty lands players' award". 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Leicester 22–17 South Africa". BBC Sport. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  12. ^ "England trio secure new Leicester Tigers deals". BBC Sport. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Players pick Youngs as top man". Leicester Tigers official website. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  14. ^ "Leicester Tigers' Ben Youngs nets top award". Leicester Mercury website. 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  15. ^ "Leicester Tigers 40-22 Harlequins | Premiership match report". TheGuardian.com. 25 April 2010.
  16. ^ "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC Sport. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Bath 27 Leicester Tigers 21: Anthony Watson bags late brace to secure come-from-behind win at Twickenham". The Daily Telegraph. 8 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Presentation to landmark appearance makers" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. 18 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Premiership: Leicester 28-24 Northampton". BBC Sport. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Ben Youngs: 'At no point did I ever want to walk away' Leicester Tigers scrum-half made his 250th appearance for the club against Northampton Saints". Leicester Mercury. Reach PLC. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  22. ^ Doel, Jon (22 July 2024). "England rugby star Ben Youngs has heart surgery after collapse in front of fans". Wales Online.
  23. ^ "Grand Slam glory for England Under 20s". RFU Official site. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  24. ^ "England upbeat after sevens defeat". Channel 4. 30 March 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  25. ^ Standley, James (22 June 2008). "England U20 3–38 NZ U20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  26. ^ "England lose out to New Zealand in Junior final". RFU Official site. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  27. ^ "Senior England EPS Update". RFU Official site. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  28. ^ "England Saxons 17–13 Ireland A". BBC Sport. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  29. ^ Fordyce, Tom (13 March 2010). "Six Nations as it happened". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  30. ^ Fordyce, Tom (20 March 2010). "France 12–10 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  31. ^ Ackford, Paul (19 June 2010). "Ben Youngs at the heart of a resurgent England". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  32. ^ "Youngs vows to improve". skysports.com. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  33. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2011: England team guide". The Guardian. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  34. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2015: England squad". BBC Sport. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  35. ^ "How England equalled New Zealand's 18-match winning streak, game by game". The Guardian. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  36. ^ "France 21-31 England". BBC Sport.
  37. ^ "One-track England still have winning tune". BBC Sport.
  38. ^ "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in". BBC Sport. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Lions squad 2013 announced". The Telegraph. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  40. ^ "Australia (12) 21 - 23 (13) British and Irish Lions (FT)". ESPN Sport. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  41. ^ "Lions 2013: Brothers Ben and Tom Youngs ready to make history". BBC Sport. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  42. ^ "British and Irish Lions call for Leicester Tigers stars Ben Youngs and Dan Cole". Leicester Mercury. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  43. ^ "The British & Irish Lions this evening expressed their support for the Youngs family following the announcement that Ben has withdrawn from the squad for family reasons". British & Irish Lions. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  44. ^ "Ben Youngs". ESPN. 17 November 2021. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  45. ^ Standley, James (19 March 2011). "2011 Six Nations: Ireland 24-8 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  46. ^ Fordyce, Tom (19 March 2016). "Six Nations 2016: England win Grand Slam with France victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  47. ^ Fordyce, Tom (18 March 2017). "Six Nations 2017: Ireland 13-9 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  48. ^ Fordyce, Tom (2 November 2019). "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  49. ^ Palmer, Bryn (16 May 2009). "Leicester 10-9 London Irish". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  50. ^ Standley, James (29 May 2010). "Leicester 33-27 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  51. ^ Osborne, Chris (25 May 2013). "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
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