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'I've no regrets': Tom Youngs retires with immediate effect
Ex-Leicester skipper Tom Youngs has confirmed his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect. The 35-year-old retires after making 215 appearances for the Tigers, as well as gaining 28 Test caps for England and three for the British and Irish Lions. A Premiership title winner in 2012/13 and Anglo-Welsh Cup winner in 2016/17, he retires in second place on the club’s all-time list for appearances as captain with 98. Only Martin Johnson has led Leicester on more occasions.
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Youngs said: “I had always planned around this season being my last and I am comfortable with the timing of it now. I have no regrets and, looking back, am proud of what I have achieved at the only club I ever wanted to play for.”
A second-generation Tiger, Youngs is the son of former Leicester scrum-half Nick Youngs and spent his career playing alongside brother Ben at club and international level. Together, the father and sons have made more than 630 first-team appearances for the club.
On his family connection to the club, Youngs added: “There has always been a connection to the club, with dad playing for Tigers, and I have memories from an early age of hearing about what that was like for him and what it meant to him. To be able to do what I have done, alongside my brother and after my dad, is just magical. I couldn’t have written it any better.”
Norfolk born, Youngs played his junior rugby with Holt and North Walsham before joining the Leicester Tigers academy. During his time there, Youngs enjoyed a decorated age-grade career with England honours at U16, U18, U19 and U20s levels before playing internationally on the World Rugby Sevens circuit. In addition to Tigers, he represented Bedford and Nottingham in senior rugby.
Looking back on his formative years in the game, Youngs said: “Growing up, I just loved it. Pretty simple, to be honest, it was just something I knew I wanted to keep doing at any level. Playing with my mates at Gresham’s School, Holt and North Walsham was my favourite part of the week, which I was able to turn into a career for Tigers, England and the Lions. I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to do that.”
Youngs made his senior debut in December 2006, away to Northampton Saints in the EDF Energy Cup, before making his Premiership debut against London Irish a fortnight later, on Boxing Day, at the Madejski Stadium. He scored his first Tigers try in his second season in the first team, away to Leeds Carnegie.
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During the 2008/09 cup competition, Tom and brother Ben started a senior Tigers game together for the first time in an away win over Bath. In early 2009, Youngs made his first appearance at hooker in an A-League win over Gloucester before spending time at Nottingham on loan, building experience in the front row.
Youngs finished the 2011/12 season as a domestic cup winner and appeared as a replacement in the Premiership final defeat to Harlequins at Twickenham – his first experience of the league decider. He was called into the England Saxons squad ahead of the 2012/13 campaign and then received his first Test cap in a win over Fiji in November 2012.
Youngs started all four Tests that autumn and made his Six Nations debut in 2013. The 2012/13 season ended on a high for Youngs and Tigers with the club winning the Premiership title and the front-rower being named Premiership player of the year.
In the summer of 2013, Youngs was selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions and played in all three Tests against Australia. He made his World Cup debut in 2015, joining Ben as just the second pair of brothers to represent England at the tournament alongside fellow Leicester Tigers duo Rory and Tony Underwood.
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Youngs made his 100th Tigers appearance in December 2015 and was appointed club captain ahead of the 2016/17 campaign. He led the club to the Anglo-Welsh Cup success in 2017 and made his 100th starting appearance for the club in May of the same year. During the early stages of the 2017/18 campaign, he made a 100th Premiership appearance.
In 2019, Youngs made the 51st appearance as captain of Leicester Tigers to move into second place on the club’s all-time list behind Johnson. His 200th club appearance was against Sale in January 2021, becoming the 95th player in Leicester history to reach the milestone. Youngs stepped down from the role of captain ahead of the 2021/22 season, with Ellis Genge appointed to replace his fellow front-rower.
Discussing his senior career, Youngs said: “It was never easy, but I loved that. It suited me, the person I am and wanted to be was helped by doing it my way. Not just on the pitch, but off it as well, I am so grateful to all of the teammates that have helped me along the way, coaches who have taught me so much and fans who have been there for me, cheering us on.
“I want to make special mention of all those who I have worked with at Leicester Tigers, led by chairman Peter Tom, who has been a great supporter of me and my family on and off the field.”
After appearing for the club in the 2021/22 pre-season fixtures at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Youngs took indefinite leave from the game for personal reasons and has not featured during the current campaign. “Most of all, I want to thank my family for all that they have done to help me achieve what I have been able to do throughout my career,” he said.
“My mum, my dad, my brother and all of my extended family, I am so lucky to have them. Finally, to my wife Tiff and daughter Maisie, I am lucky to have you alongside me and would not be where I am without you. Thank you both.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
16 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments