'Your family suffer because they can see you're distraught after a game... Sunday morning comes around and you're still grumpy, still edgy'
Tom Youngs isn’t in the business of telling white lies about Leicester’s ugly Premiership campaign. Eleven defeats in 17 matches have them dangling in 10th spot, just five points clear of relegation. Unthinkable.
So bad is their form, the loss of four of their last five games resulted in Mike Ford being parachuted in this week as an emergency coach ahead of Saturday’s showdown with table-topping Exeter.
Youngs refuses to sugar-coat the stark reality of Tigers’ dramatic fall. They have gone from a trophy-winning club to one perilously looking over its shoulder, spooked by fears of a first-ever drop into the Championship wilderness.
“We haven’t performed well enough this season, haven’t got enough wins and we probably do deserve to be where we have been. There are reasons around that, but we fully deserve to be where we are at,” said the non-nonsense hooker to RugbyPass.
“We have to accept that, realise where we are and understand how a club of this nature is not used to being down there but we are. We have to deal with it.
Here's how we're looking as we head into a European weekend ?@ExeterChiefs seal a semi-final spot ?@gloucesterrugby and @Harlequins swap places ?@SaintsRugby up ?? spots to fifth
And it's getting TENSE at the bottom ? Can @FalconsRugby escape the drop? pic.twitter.com/i7Dh2qLc99
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) March 24, 2019
“This club expects to win trophies. We expect to be up there at the top and we’re not and we know this is not good enough. We know that everyone suffers around us, the fanbase, the coaches, everyone. Your family suffer because they can see you’re distraught after a game, you’re not quite yourself and the Sunday morning comes around and you’re still a bit grumpy, still a bit edgy. You are dealt these cards sometimes.
“We all want to win because that is why we play sport. You don’t play it to lose. We want to win because there is no other feeling like it and it’s frustrating when you’re not getting that. There is a lot of straight-talking, a lot of coming together, a lot of the sort of ‘c’mon lads, let’s try and stay positive on things’.
“You can into a very negative cycle very quickly and that doesn’t help anyone. There’s not much we can hang our hat on at the minute, but we have to keep on trying to deliver.
“The atmosphere is a frustrated one, especially when it isn’t going well,” he continued about the current mood at Welford Road, the ground that will host three of their five matches on the crucial run-in which also features an April 12 game away at bottom club Newcastle. “But at the same time when it’s going well it’s a hell of an atmosphere.
“It’s down to us players and staff to produce a performance which gets the crowd on its feet. We haven’t done that. Last time we were off and got punished by a Northampton side who were very good. It frustrates me, it pains me to say, but that is the reality. We have to be better than that.”
It might sound strange to hear Youngs getting so worked up about his rugby and so disappointed with how poorly Leicester are doing. Having gone through the ordeal where his wife Tiffany was diagnosed with incurable cancer in April 2017 before she inspiringly bounced back to beat it, it’s fair to suggest there are far more important things in life than sport.
I have had lots of people asking to donate for what I have been through in the last 4 years so I have setup an Justgiving page so please donate. Thank you ? xxxx https://t.co/ScsJOaZxz4
— Tiffany Youngs (@SandsTiffany) August 4, 2018
But having emerged the other side from this difficult family situation, Youngs is putting that traumatic experience to use in handling the duress of Leicester’s underwhelming season.
“I have learned a lot of life lessons in a very short amount of time regarding that so yes, it definitely does help with trying to keep people’s heads and stuff like that. Yes, I’m a firm believer in that lesson has taught me a lot and helps me in regards to pressure situations like we are going through.
“Rugby is very important to my family. Yes, it’s a game but it’s probably a little bit more than that. Everyone in the family wants to see you succeed and stuff like that.
One thing I know is having gone through the stuff with Tiff, you have to keep battling on and I’ll tell you it’s a funny old wheel which doesn’t turn for the good, it really is. You have got to keep working hard at things and you keep pushing, pushing and pushing and it will turn. Hopefully we will get somewhere near that on Saturday.”
Leicester’s 6-40 trouncing at Sandy Park on the opening weekend of the season was the first step towards the relegation crisis that has now enveloped the club. Matt O’Connor was sacked two days after that humiliating loss at Exeter and his successor Geordan Murphy has endured a baptism of fire in his debut head coaching role.
Seven months later, Tigers are cornered and need to come out fighting if their disastrous season isn’t to have a disastrous denouement. “You have to deal with this and front up. That is what we have to do as a group and we will be ready for a good battle with Exeter,” continued Youngs.
“Things haven’t quite gone our way but that is life in some regards and sometimes you have to really bite in and dig your way out of it which we will do. The big thing is we can’t let it effect how we want to play, we can’t let it tie us up and we can’t let us be scared to do stuff. That is the big thing.
“Pressure is a funny thing, it can make you narrow minded. Also, pressure can make a group really come out of its shell, really take the bull by the horn. We have got a lot of experienced players in our team who have played a lot of rugby, a lot of pressured rugby. Those guys will be fully tuned in. Those England boys will be rested up and it will be good for us as a team.
“Exeter are a quality side. I don’t think I will say they are Leicester of old because personally they don’t want to be tarnished with that. Leicester of old is the Leicester of old. Exeter are a very good side. They grind wins out. They have got a good forward pack and they have got a good DNA where it works for them and they deserve to be at the top of the table.
“They have won plenty of games on the road, have won home games comfortably at times and they are a quality side. It’s a huge challenge for us. But this sport is a funny thing and things can turn on its head very quickly.”
We were with @IlkestonRugby U10s last week, the local winners of our #TrainWithYourHeroes competition for @LeicesterTigers, led by club legends @TomYoungs87, Mathew Tait and Matt Smith. Take a look at the video here… #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/YFrYLIN82m
— Gallagher UK (@GallagherUK) April 3, 2019
Away from rugby, Youngs is hoping the ongoing Brexit saga can finally be resolved. Having grown up on the family farm in Norfolk that is run by his father Nick, the hooker hopes to retire to the countryside once his rugby career is over. “I haven’t got a clue (what will happen with Brexit). It’s one of those things, it has got to the point where everyone is frustrated and wants someone to make a decision.
“Until we know exactly where we are we can’t make plans to try and forecast the future. At the moment the future is looking very narrow because we don’t know what we’re doing. Until we know exactly what the plan is, it’s something a little out of our control.
“We have stuff definitely going to Europe (for sale from the farm), but in farming sometimes you have got to change and go with the flow. In times like this you have to deal with things and find the best way out.
Going home is something he now struggles to do. Rugby and school runs take precedence, but there will come a time when farming is again at the epicentre of Youngs’ routine. “I love coming back to your roots. It’s always a good laugh to get on a tractor again and do some work. Going back to your grassroots goes back to your memories when you were a young boy. Life was very different then to now, but it’s something I really look forward to doing when I retire, going home to the farm. I’m very excited about that.”
Having just attended a Gallagher Premiership Train with your Heroes session on Leicester’s behalf with the Ilkeston under-10s, he has been having flashbacks to his own earthy start in rugby in Norfolk. “It’s nice to come down to Ilkeston. It makes you remember how it all starts, reminds me of my rugby club Holt where it all started for me. I have never forgotten where I have come from. I go back to visit the club a lot. They are a big part of my rugby journey and got me first running with the rugby ball and enjoying the sport.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
10 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.
14 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 commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments