Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy and club-captain Tom Youngs pay tribute to Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben ahead his 100th Test appearance for England.
Ben Youngs will become just the second player to make 100 appearances for England when he runs out against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
The son of former Leicester scrum-half Nick Youngs, Ben made his England debut during the 2010 Six Nations against Scotland and has remained a mainstay in the national side for more than a decade, including appearing at three successive Rugby World Cups.
During a decorated age-grade career, Tigers Academy graduate represented England at Under-16s, 18s and 20s, before going on to appear for the national Sevens team on the World Rugby 7s circuit.
“To have done what he has so well and for so long at the top of the game is incredible”
Tom Youngs
Youngs made his senior club debut in 2007 in a friendly match against Argentina at Welford Road, before becoming Leicester’s youngster-ever league player in his Premiership debut away to Bristol in April of the same year and appeared off the bench in that season’s 2006/07 Premiership Final win over Gloucester.
Ahead of his senior international debut, the Norfolk-born scrum-half appeared for England Saxons in 2010.
In 2013, Youngs was selected as part of the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia alongside his brother and Tigers team-mate Tom and included in the touring party for the 2015 trip to New Zealand before withdrawing for personal reasons.
The Leicester No.9 became England’s most-capped scrum-half ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, where Youngs was a key figure in the side’s campaign to the Final against South Africa.
The 31-year-old, who made his 250th appearance for Tigers during the final rounds of the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season, is the most-capped member of the Leicester squad.
A four-time Premiership Rugby winner with Leicester Tigers and three-time Six Nations winner for England, Youngs also featured as part of the Grand Slam winning national squad in 2016.
Tigers Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy, a long-time team-mate and captain of Youngs at Leicester, said the latest achievement of the scrum-half was equal parts unsurprising and phenomenal.
“Playing international rugby is an incredible achievement for any player, it’s what every player strives to do,” said Murphy.
“So to do it 100 times, for a country like England with the talent and depth available to them, is phenomenal.
“With everything going on in the world, in our game, it has probably flown under the radar a little bit but this is something that only one player has achieved for England before now, which shows just how big an achievement this is for Lenny.
“Everyone at Tigers who saw Ben coming up would tell you it doesn’t surprise them that he has gone on to make 100 appearances for England.
“Everyone in Leicester and at Tigers has been a part of his journey, including his family who are such a big part of our club and I know will be cheering him on this weekend.”
Tigers skipper and Ben’s older brother, Tom, added: “It’s an incredible achievement and I’m so proud of Ben and what he has done in the game for Leicester, the Lions and England.
“He has worked so hard to achieve all of what he has achieved and it will be a proud moment for our family when he runs out for his 100th Test match this weekend.
“For me to have been able to play with him at international level and for Leicester for so long makes it even more special, after our dad represented the club too.
“To have done what he has so well and for so long at the top of the game is incredible.”
To celebrate his 100th England appearance, we are giving away an England rugby shirt signed by milestone man Ben Youngs.
To be in with a chance of winning, book a place at our international hospitality event at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on November 28 to see Ben, Ellis Genge and the England squad take on Wales.
Book your place HERE.
With the hospitality sector ever-changing at this present time, Leicester Tigers fans can be assured that they can book with confidence when attending the Tigers restaurants at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Popular events such as the Captain’s Run Brunch as well as away day hospitality screenings have allowed fans to enjoy rugby back at the home of Leicester Tigers.
While government restrictions have resulted in a number of cancellations, attendees can be reassured that they are booking with confidence in a covid-secure environment for a unique event.
Find out more HERE
