Originally a centre good enough to play first-team rugby for Leicester and England age-groups, Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable career since moving into the front row.

He capped an amazing 2012/13 season by being named Tigers Players’ Player of the Year and Aviva Premiership Player of the Year, he also lifted the Aviva Premiership trophy at Twickenham and earned selection for the successful British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in his breakthrough year at hooker.

Also shortlisted for England Player of the Year in 2013, Tom made incredible strides for a man who began the season without a Premiership starting appearance in the front row. He quickly found his form and made his England debut in the win over Fiji in November 2012 after just nine Tigers starts at hooker and started all four autumn internationals before gaining his first Six Nations experience in 2013.

During his days in the backline coming through the Tigers academy, Tom played in the IRB Under-19 World Championships in South Africa in 2005 and then made his England Sevens debut in Dubai during November 2007. He also had two seasons on loan with Bedford in the Championship.

Tom made his first Tigers appearance as a hooker in the Premiership ‘A’ League win over Gloucester in January 2009 and spent two seasons gaining experience in the front row with Nottingham.

After ending the 2011/12 season with an Anglo-Welsh Cup winner’s medal and a first appearance in a Premiership Final, he joined England’s tour to South Africa, playing in both midweek fixtures, and was named in the Saxons squad for 2012/13 before his elevation to senior company was confirmed.

He started a Tigers match alongside younger brother Ben for the first time in a win at Bath in 2008/09 and has replicated this feat with England and the Lions.

Tom was appointed Tiger club captain in 2016/17, playing a significant role during a turbulent season which saw Tigers reach the Premiership knockout stages and win the Anglo-Welsh Cup and he also had to cope with his wife Tiffany’s serious illness while still leading the squad over the next two seasons.

Follow Tom Youngs on social media

Twitter: @TomYoungs87 | Instagram: @youngs.tom