Ben Youngs Hints at Impending Retirement but Vows to Finish Season in Style
In a heartfelt and introspective interview with the BBC, England rugby legend Ben Youngs has hinted that he may be approaching the end of his illustrious career, but has vowed to finish the season on a high. The 34-year-old Leicester Tigers scrum-half has been a stalwart of English rugby for over a decade, earning 107 caps for his country and featuring in four World Cups.
According to the BBC, Youngs has spent two decades at Leicester Tigers, a period during which he has enjoyed immense success and created memories that will last a lifetime. "That’s the strange part, I’m using the ‘r’ word [retirement] but it isn’t over today, there is still plenty of rugby left this season and that’s what is at the front of my mind," Youngs told the BBC. "I’m not done, let’s not write the obituary just yet."
Youngs has had an illustrious career, making his England debut in March 2010 and going on to play at four World Cups, in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. He retired from international rugby after the 2023 tournament in France, where he helped England finish third. The BBC reports that Youngs was also part of the successful British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013, featuring in the first two Tests.
The Leicester Tigers scrum-half has strong family ties to the sport, having played alongside his brother Tom, who retired in 2022, while their father Nick played for the club between 1981 and 1988. In 2021, the family became the first to reach 600 Tigers appearances, a total that now stands at 692. Youngs told the BBC that playing for Leicester Tigers has been his entire rugby life, and that the idea of playing against the club was never an option.
"It’s all I have known in club rugby – the green, red and white – and all I’ve wanted to know," Youngs said. "The idea of playing against this club wasn’t ever an option for me and so to be able to finish a one-club player will be one of my greatest achievements." Youngs added that he is not ready to thank those who have helped him achieve his goals just yet, but is instead focused on finishing the season with more success.
The BBC reports that Youngs is not done just yet, and is determined to end his career on a high. "The time will come to thank everybody who have helped me achieve what I have but that’s for when it comes to an end," Youngs said. "For now, it’s about finishing this chapter of my life with some more success. I’m not done just yet." With his sights set on ending the season in style, Youngs will undoubtedly be a player to watch in the coming months.
As the rugby world waits with bated breath to see what the future holds for Ben Youngs, one thing is certain: his legacy will live on for generations to come. According to the BBC, Youngs’ commitment to Leicester Tigers and English rugby has made him a legend of the sport, and his name will be remembered for years to come.
