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<\/p>\nA former international rugby union star who tasted the highs for club and country has said he now loves spending his weekends running a burger stall on the family farm.<\/p>\n
Tom Youngs was a hooker for Leicester Tigers and England, and played for both teams – including in a World Cup – with his younger brother, scrum-half Ben.<\/p>\n
After retiring four years ago, Youngs returned to the family farm near Aylsham, Norfolk, where he recently set up a “Scrums and Buns” stall and bar in one of its fields.<\/p>\n
“I’ve always wanted to do something like this… it’s just then having the confidence to do it and it’s gone really well so far,” he said.<\/p>\n
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Joe Marler (left) and the Youngs brothers played in the 2015 World Cup [Getty Images]<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old, who earned 28 England caps, was Leicester’s player of the season when they won the Premiership title in 2013<\/a> – the same year he was part of the victorious British & Irish Lions tour of Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n He now works full-time on the arable side of the farm owned by his father, Nick, who was the family’s first international rugby player, and scrum-half for Leicester in the 1980s.<\/p>\n Tom Youngs previously credited the farm work for helping him with his loneliness following the death of his wife, Tiffany, shortly after his retirement from the game in 2022.<\/p>\n Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, he admitted he had never dreamed of going from international rugby to burgers but had found it “a really nice way to spend the weekend”.<\/p>\n “That’s the way of the world, and farming at the moment – diversification is the key thing to our business,” he added.<\/p>\n “It’s been fantastic welcoming so many families enjoying the countryside.<\/p>\n “There’s a bit of a disconnect in the countryside at the moment, and I think getting kids on farms is really important.<\/p>\n “If we can get them down here and enjoy a good local burger from a conversation with a parent, that leads on to good examples of what we’re doing on our farm to help nature and all sorts of things.”<\/p>\n The new venture is a partnership with cousin George and a professional caterer, with “all the family” helping out with the stall, the bar and chatting with customers.<\/p>\n That included England’s most-capped player<\/a> Ben, 36, who retired from Leicester Tigers last season.<\/p>\n “He usually pops down and has a look, has a burger and brings the kids,” said Tom.<\/p>\n “It’s been nice for kids who love rugby to come down and get an autograph.”<\/p>\n Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.<\/p>\n Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n More on this story