Ben Youngs pens new Leicester Tigers deal

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs has signed a new deal to stay at Welford Road.
The England international has been a one-club man during his career thus far and has amassed more than 200 appearances on his way to four Premiership title honours.
Almost eleven years on from his league debut, Youngs has won 73 caps for England and has been selected for two British & Irish Lions tours, although he missed the 2017 series in New Zealand due to personal reasons concerning an ill family member.
In expressing his delight at committing to Leicester the 28-year-old said it was the family connection he felt for the club which made him sign.
“I am delighted to extend my stay at a club which means a great deal to myself and my family,” Youngs told the club's official website.
“I'm looking forward to contributing as much as I can in the coming years as we all strive to make it as successful as possible for the club.”
Head coach Matt O'Connor echoed his player's sentiments and left no doubt about his crucial Youngs is to his plans for the future.
“Ben is a world-class player and a central part of the squad here and an important player for us going forward,” O'Connor said.
“He has packed a lot of experience at the highest level into his career already and he is still a young man with a lot of rugby left in him.
“He has strong family connections to the club, he came through the academy here, he is first choice in a successful England set-up and we believe he can be a major player for us for many seasons to come.”