Ben Youngs

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.

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.

Youngs is married to Charlotte.

They have two children, son Boris and daughter Billie.

Later that season, he played in the final of the 2006–07 Guinness Premiership.

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.

Youngs has been a Premiership Rugby champion five times, winning in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and in 2022.

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.

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.

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 and won the club's player's young player of the year award.

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.

Later that month, Youngs made his debut for the England Sevens team at the Hong Kong sevens.

Youngs played in the final of both the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship.

Youngs was instrumental in Leicester's 22–17 defeat of the Springboks in a tour match on 6 November 2009 kicking 17 points.

He was able to establish himself as first choice in 2009–10 season starting 23 games.

His teammates voted him Leicester Tigers Player of the Season for 2009/10.

In a season littered with awards, he also picked up the Landrover Discovery of the Season award.

He crowned off the season by playing in the 2009–10 Guinness Premiership final victory over Saracens, scoring a try in the process.

and 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.

In February 2010, Youngs signed a new contract.

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.

Later that month, he made his debut for the England Saxons, against Ireland A.

Youngs made his senior England debut as a substitute on the wing for the injured Ugo Monye in the Calcutta Cup match against on 13 March 2010, and was an unused replacement in the match against.

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 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.

On 13 November 2010, Youngs was awarded man of the match award for his outstanding performance against Australia.

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.

Youngs continued to be a steadfast member of the England squad, including call ups for the 2011, 2015 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, starting 15 of them.

This run included the 2016 Grand Slam achieved through a win against the French in Paris, 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.

On 8 April 2017 in a game against Bath at Twickenham Youngs made his 200th appearance for Leicester.

Following Leicester's home game with Newcastle Youngs was presented with an engraved silver picture frame in recognition of the feat.

He started the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final and toured Australia with the Lions in 2013.

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.

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