Six Nations 2022: Ben Youngs breaks England men's caps record
- Published
'A special day' - Youngs on becoming England's record appearance maker
Ben Youngs says the "magnitude" of becoming England's most capped men's player has not yet sunk in.
The 32-year-old surpassed the mark set by World Cup-winning prop Jason Leonard when he came on for his 115th England appearance in Saturday's Six Nations win against Wales.
Youngs said the reception he received at Twickenham was "fantastic".
"I've tried to convince myself that today and tomorrow I will sit back and try and absorb it all," he added.
"I don't think the magnitude of what's happened has sunk in."
The scrum-half still has a way to go to reach the record of 137 set by women's world champion prop Rocky Clark, but that mark could be achievable if he continues until the next World Cup in 2023.
In the last two games, the lively 24-year-old Harry Randall has been chosen to start, but Youngs says he is enjoying offering support to his younger team-mate.
"Right now I'm getting a huge amount of joy in helping this young team," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"While [head coach] Eddie [Jones] still thinks I have value and I feel I have value, it seems to be all right.
"Now I can reflect on that moment and to have the family witness it as well, it was a fabulous occasion."
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Jones praised Youngs for his achievement, saying: "It is a great tribute to his work ethic, his resilience, his toughness, to be the most capped England player.
"The thing I like about Ben is that he has matured into a great team man, there is no better team man than him. He always wants to be the starting half-back but he has accepted for this game that he was a finisher - he came on and played brilliantly.
"His kicking, organisation, his talk on the field was first class. We are so lucky to have a guy like him with such experience."
10 facts to bring you up to speed on Youngs
In celebration of the impressive achievement, we have put together 10 facts you might not have known about Youngs.
From farm life, to his dyslexia diagnosis, to the opening - and subsequent closure - of his coffee shop, here is your comprehensive guide to the England scrum-half.
1. He grew up on a farm
Youngs grew up on his family's farm near Holt in Norfolk. He is the youngest of 28 cousins and spent a lot of his time outside, playing rugby or football on the beach with them most days during the summer.
2. His dad played rugby
As well as being a farmer, Youngs' father Nick also played as a scrum-half for Leicester and England.
3. Rugby was not his first sport
Youngs and his brother Tom took up football first, but did not enjoy it and later switched to rugby.
Ben Youngs played for England at Under-16, U18 and U20 level before making his senior debut aged 20
4. He is dyslexic
Youngs' love of rugby was enhanced by the fact it gave him a confidence he lacked in his school studies.
Speaking on the England Rugby Podcast, external, the scrum-half said he was diagnosed with dyslexia aged nine.
"Having to stand up and read a passage was so out of my comfort zone - it was like the walls were closing in on me," he said.
"I had teachers that were patient and willing to invest in me. I was very fortunate. If you're not getting that then you need to go and ask for help. Don't be afraid to reach out."
5. His nickname is Lenny
In 2020, Youngs told Rugby World, external the nickname Lenny was given to him by his cousins as a child.
"Benny became Lenny and it stuck," he said. "Everyone calls me that now."
6. He is the second-most capped men's scrum-half in the world
Only Australia's George Gregan has made more international appearances with 139.
7. He used to have a coffee shop
Youngs opened a coffee and doughnut bar at Welford Road with former Leicester player Tom Croft - a previous housemate and best man at Youngs' wedding. The shop closed because of a lack of crowds at the ground during Covid.
8. He made his England debut on the wing
Youngs' international career started in a surprising way as he had to make an appearance on the wing after Ugo Monye was injured during the Calcutta Cup draw against Scotland in March 2010.
A few months later, Youngs made his first start at scrum-half and celebrated in fashion with a try during a tight 21-20 win against Australia in Sydney.
9. He has played with his brother for club and country
Ben and Tom Youngs have played together for the Lions, Leicester and England
Youngs followed Tom to Leicester as a teenager and as well as playing together at the club, the pair combined at England and became the first siblings to start a British and Irish Lions Test together since 1989 on the 2013 tour of Australia.
10. He plays to bring his family joy through illness
Tom Youngs took indefinite leave from Leicester in October to look after his wife Tiffany, who was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2014 and recovered before falling ill again.
Ben Youngs has helped Leicester to the top of the Premiership table this season and says his motivation has been to bring some light to a dark time for his family.
"It has been a tough time and it continues to be a tough time," he told the Daily Mail in December., external
"My responsibility is to try and bring some joy. That's a pretty easy motivation for me."
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