News about Ben Youngs

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: As the Leicester faithful tried to come to terms with another let-down campaign, the backlash boiled over on Saturday to such an extent that the club may take action against some of their own disgruntled fans. The cause of the unrest was a shocking collapse by the Tigers, who were beaten again at Welford Road. Bristol were down and out, or so it seemed, trailing 19-0 with 11 minutes left. Not so. Leicester couldn't close it out. Reduced to 14 men, they folded, conceding three late tries to lose 21-19. It was a calamitous result which snuffed out any faint hope in the East Midlands that the Tigers could reach the play-offs, which was once an annual routine. Those present didn't take it well at all, as the aftermath of the game turned toxic.

CHRIS FOY: It was announced that he would play for the famous multi-national team against Fiji in June, just days after Danny Carey announced his retirement from Test rugby. Care will be coached by Robbie Deans, the Kiwi who was previously in charge of Australia, for a high-profile English contingent within a Barbarians squad.

CHRIS FOY: England seems to have crossed the road as they brace for a showdown with Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. They have reached a difficult junction, in fact, all the lights are off, and they don't have a map. When Steve Borthwick took over the national team in December 2022, the buzz word was 'clarity,' and that was achieved with a narrow game-plan at the new World Cup.

JOE MARLER: I'm excited for the game against Wales this weekend. It's my all-time favorite match of the lot. Sometimes I have to go for a little lie down because I'm so excited. The rivalry, the roots, and the venom are among the reasons. It's top notch. The Welsh have a love-hate relationship. I adore them and they loove me. Can I blame them? No, I can't. When we play together, we always have a surge in energy and vigour, and in some cases, it can get the best of you. I'm a walking, ploding example of that. I've lost my head in this fixture a few times, so let's talk to Alun Wyn Jones and Samson Lee. When Welsh people come to me and have a pop, I often tell them a little pork pie and say I'm half Welsh because I want them to like me. I've been to Snowdonia and it was magical. I loved Welsh cakes as well. We live in a beautiful world with lovely people, but we just seem to dislike each other when it comes to rugby.

NOTEBOOK SIX NATIONS: England began their Six Nations campaign with a win over Italy, but not in Rome, an unconvincing one. While there were mistakes in defence, Steve Borthwick's team had flashes of excellence in attack. Ultimately, they walked away with a 27-24 victory, with Alex Mitchell's attempt to help them overcome a strong showing from the hosts. Chris Foy of Mail Sport looks at some of the key points from England's ride to Rome.

PLAY WORLD OR RUGBY: Roll up, Roll up. We've arrived back to the office. The Six Nations will light up the winter gloom as never. The tribal rivalries will ignite native pride in soaring cities as hordes of supporters bring chaos and life. You know the drill. It's a good thing that it's working. We all love it. But the unfortunate truth is that the annual championship has been both a showcase of the sport and a barrier to its wider growth. Rugby must develop, and this widely circulated but private event is a pinnacle of the European game.

Ben Youngs, England's most recognizable cap holder, is due to leave Twickenham for one more Twickenham game against Fiji in June. Youngs, 34, made his 127th and final Test appearance in England's bronze medal match victory over Argentina at last year's World Cup before retiring from international service. It came to an end in a 13-year Test career that saw the Leicester man compete at four international showpiece tournaments in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.

CHRIS FOY: After an epic World Cup finish with a slew of retirements, England is back in a new era. Courtney Laws, Ben Youngs, and Jonny May have all passed away, though Owen Farrell's attention will be on Saracens for the foreseeable future. It could be a very new-look England in the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3, despite rumors regarding veterans Dan Cole and Billy Vunipola.

Despite four losses in their first five league matches, Ben Youngs begged with Leicester fans to keep the faith with Dan McKellar's new-look Tigers. McKellar, Australia's head coach, took over at Welford Road this summer, but Harlequins lost by 29-25 on Saturday. It came even as a result of Leicester's international stars, including Youngs, returning for the first time since the World Cup. McKellar confirmed that the Tigers can't afford to lose much more if they want to finish in the top four, and that a home derby against Northampton on Saturday is a must-win.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: England received adulation for a lack of creative spirit, but the team nonetheless won six games out of seven. Steve Borthwick must oversee a Red Rose transition after several veterans are retiring and other players are moving abroad. Despite an impressive third-place finish here, the RFU is aware that a lot of work remains to be done at all levels of the English game, as was evident when union chief executive Bill Sweeney reflected on the World Cup and what lies ahead.

SIMON NIK SIMON: The team returned to France in disarray after a disastrous warm-up run, but in the semi-finals, they silenced some of their opponents. With a victory on Saturday, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole started their international careers as Farrell praised their service to the national team. The No. 10 said, 'I'm proud we found a way to win tonight.' It was a tumultuous old game, but I thought it was a good effort on the back of another six-day turnaround and a loss last weekend.'

STADE DE FRANCE NIK SIMON The Eurostar from London to Paris on Sunday morning was full of the Youngs clan. Parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. They came from Norfolk, revelling in tales of yesteryear long before Ben Youngs skipped out for the last of his 127 England appearances. A record haul. Big brother Tom, who performed the anthem with him in 2012, reminisced about the first time he was beaten to his sidestep on the family farm before coming to his seat in the Stade de France.

As England takes on Argentina in the bronze medal match at the Rugby World Cup, follow Mail Sport's live blog for the most up-to-date results and news. Steve Borthwick has made seven changes from his team's appearance in South Africa. Marcus Smith returns to full-back, while Ben Youngs earns his 127th cap after announcing his retirement earlier this week.

SIMON IN PARIS: They will all be in Norfolk, where a painting by Ben Youngs covers the entire clubhouse wall at Holt Rugby Club, and will salute their No. 9 tonight. Youngs made his first steps into the game, and he'll bow out as his country's Most Capable Player. As the most tenacious England career comes to an end, Tom, who used to throw sugar beet to him on their granddad's farm, will join him in Paris.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: The Pumas are in danger. England is brimming with righteous indignation, and there is every chance that Argentina will be the ones to savor the whirlwind tonight. Any team in the history of Rugby World Cups has so much multi-dimensional energy into one of these pre-show matches, which are often referred to as a bronze final these days. They will unleash a veritable mountain of rage in this consolation contest at the Stade de France, as with the uncertainty in the England camp over being refused a place in the final by the narrowest of margins on tomorrow.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: The bronze medal match at a World Cup is the one no one wants to play in. I'm not concerned if England places third or fourth in France. What matters is that Steve Borthwick plays the game as the start of a new age, the chance to press the reset button on England's journey to 2027. I've selected my squad for the 2027 World Cup, and eight of them are playing against Argentina, which is exciting.

Ben Youngs, England's mostcapped male rugby player, has confirmed that he will retire from international rugby at the end of the season. Youngs, 34, is expected to start England's Bronze match against Argentina on Friday, earning his 127th cap, and he will be looking to come out with a final World Cup victory. He revealed his decision on BBC's 5 Live Sport shortly after being selected in Steve Borthwick's starting XV to face their South American opponents.

CHRIS FOY IN PARIS: Tom Curry will play against Argentina on Friday night in his 50th cap for England as he begins. Since claiming that Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi had been called a "white c**t" by the national team's agonizing 16-15 semi-final loss at the Stade de France last Saturday, the Sale flanker has endured an ordeal. As World Rugby's inquiry into Tom Curry and his family's allegations moves forward, the 25-year-old was named blindside by Steve Borthwick shortly after his club released a statement condemning the "disgusting abuse directed at him and his families."

CHRIS FOY: This is it, the moment of truth. With a game that will define this campaign and several careers, the business end of the World Cup for England begins. Steve Borthwick's crew must win to protect names and avoid tumultuous inquests. The quarter-final showdown with Fiji at Stade Velodrome tomorrow demonstrated the sharp divide between a pass mark and a failure. Victory would send the national team into the last four, which was widely believed to be the upper limit of what could be expected of them in those difficult circumstances at this tournament. No doubt that the defeat would be seen as a failure. Whatever happens, Borthwick's England team is secure because he has the complete support of his manageresses at the RFU, but a game that might come as a verdict on the rushed first phase of the recovery effort that he accepted late last year is a huge factor. This year's chaos, upheaval, instability, critique, and turmoil has all contributed to this make-or-break occasion.

LUKE AUGUSTUS at THE O2 ARENA: Ben Youngs and Dan Cole believe England has the right captain in Courtney Laws going into the Rugby World Cup, with captain Owen Farrell suspended. The laws in France will not include England for their first two matches, beginning against Argentina on Saturday night (8 p.m.) and ending in Nice (8pm kick-off). Due to Owen Farrell's ban, the 34-year-old's position has been enhanced.

LUKE AUGUSTUS AT THE O2 ARENA: Ben Youngs is refusing to be caught up in the outside noise surrounding England's Rugby World Cup hopes as he prepares for his fourth attempt to win the sport's pinnacle award. England's Rugby World campaign begins in Marseille on Saturday night as they face Argentina in Pool A (8 p.m.). Borthwick's side has had a traumatic build-up to the tournament, losing three out of their four warm-up matches, losing a number of players to injury, but captain Owen Farrell and sole No 8 Billy Vunipola are both suspended for the start of this month's showpiece in France.

BY NIK SIMON: Exclusive insider preview: BY NIK SIMON: Patriotism and zeal have always been part of Argentina's DNA, but they now have a base layer of pragmatism. Captain Julian Montoya is one of the most focused players he has ever worked with, according to Michael Cheika, the national coach. Under their talismanic king, no corners are cut. Their error rate is low, and their conversion rate in the 22 has been one of the world's highest rates since 2023. For this weekend's match in Marseille, they are no longer considered underdogs. Montoya will be a showdown with lots of familiar faces - including his old Leicester coaches - but it will all about the team. Will his team take confidence from their victory over England at Twickenham back in November?

Danny Cipriani has reported that England captain Owen Farrell and George Ford were part of a leadership group that steered the 2015 Rugby World Cup team like a'mafia'. In his autobiography, 'Who Am I? Cipriani lifted the lid on the England team and his tumultuous debate with coach Mike Catt.' Owen [Farrell], George Ford, Chris Robshaw, Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, and a few others appeared in an excerpt from his book, which was also published by the Sun.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Fiji's first loss on Saturday in front of a tumultuous Twickenham crowd was devastating for English rugby. It was one that had been on hold for years. The current crisis hasn't arisen overnight, and it's been left to Steve Borthwick to pick up the pieces. I'm sorry for Borthwick that he is in this situation, but he can't hide away. He has no idea what has happened with England in the past. However, he has the ability to control both the present and the future.