| Venue: Twickenham Stadium Date:Saturday 26 February Kick-off:16:45 GMT |
| Coverage:Listen to match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Wales; text commentary and highlights available on the BBC Sport app and website. |
Ben Youngs’ achievements are so remarkable that Ellis Genge (England and Leicester team-mate) thinks they merit a documentary.
Youngs will win his 115th cap from the bench against Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations game. He surpasses Jason Leonard’s record of 112, which was set by England prop Jason Leonard.
Although the scrum-half has some way to go before he can break the record of Rocky Clark’s women’s world champion prop, he could reach that mark if he plays until 2023.
Genge described the 32-year old on BBC Radio 5 Live, “He’s amazing.”
“What a great character. He makes everyone feel relaxed. He has done it all. He’s been to back-toback World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019), and he’s well-positioned to be successful in 2023.
“The mark he left on the game was incredible. It’s difficult to find the right words to describe this man. They must make a film about him.
While we don’t have time to create a documentary about Youngs, we have put together a list that you might not have known.
Here’s your complete guide to England’s scrum-half.
1. He was raised on a farm.
Youngs was raised on the Norfolk farm of his family near Holt. Youngs is the youngest of 28 siblings and spends a lot of time outdoors, playing football or rugby on the beach most days of the summer.
2. His dad played rugby
Youngs’ father Nick, in addition to being a farmer. He also played scrum-half for England and Leicester.
3. Rugby wasn’t his first sport.
Youngs and Tom, his brother Tom, started football as a hobby but didn’t enjoy it. They switched to rugby later.
4. He has dyslexia.
Youngs’ love for rugby was made possible by the fact that it gave him the confidence he had lost in school.
Speaking on the England Rugby PodcastAccording to the scrum-half, he was diagnosed with dyslexia at nine years old.
He stated, “Having the courage to stand up and take a passage of text was so outside my comfort zone – it felt like the walls were closing on me.”
“I had teachers that were kind and patient with me. I was extremely fortunate. You should seek help if you aren’t getting it. Reach out to others.
5. His nickname was Lenny
2020 Youngs told Rugby WorldAs a child, his cousins gave him the nickname Lenny.
“Benny became Lenny” and it stuck, he stated. “Everyone calls my name that now.”
6. He is the second-most capted scrum-half of men in the world
With 139 appearances, only Australia’s George Gregan has been more prominently represented internationally.
7. He once owned a coffee shop.
Youngs, along with Tom Croft (a former Leicester player) opened a coffee-and-doughnut shop at Welford Road. Croft was also a housemate and best friend at Youngs’ wedding. Covid saw a shortage of people at the shop, so it closed.
8. He made his England debut in the wing.
Youngs’ international career began unexpectedly when he was forced to play on the wing following the injury of Ugo Monye in the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland in March 2010.
Youngs made his debut as a scrum-half a few months later and was celebrated in style with a try during the tight 21-20 win against Australia.
9. He has played club and national football with his brother.
As a teenager, Youngs followed Tom to Leicester and the pair played together at Leicester. They also joined forces at England where they became the first siblings ever to set up a British and Irish Lions test together.
10. He is a joy for his family through sickness
Tom Youngs took indefinite leave from Leicester in OctoberTiffany, who was diagnosed in 2014 with blood cancer and has since been fully recovered.
Ben Youngs, who helped Leicester to the Premiership Table’s top this season, said his motivation was to bring some light into a dark time in his family’s life.
“It’s been a difficult time, and it will continue to be difficult,” he told the Daily Mail in December.
“My responsibility is bring joy. This is a very easy motivator for me.
