Ben Youngs: Leicester Tigers scrum-half ‘captivated’ by Michael Cheika

Decorated Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs says he has been reinvigorated by the winning mentality of new head coach Michael Cheika.

The 35-year-old five-time Premiership title winner is in his 19th season of senior rugby with his childhood club.

Youngs, who retired from international rugby last season as England’s most capped men’s player, has so far been used off the bench by former Australia and Argentina head coach Cheika, who took over in the summer following the departure of Dan McKellar after just one season at the Tigers helm.

“He captivated me straight away and I think that was really important,” Youngs told BBC East Midlands Today.

“You want someone walking through the door that says: ‘Boys I know how to win, you know what it takes to win and this is how we are going to do it – who wants to come with me?’

“For me, well I haven’t got that long [left in the game] and I’ll get behind that, I want a piece of that and want to be a part of that.

“Had someone come in maybe and gone: ‘This is a four-year project…’ because we have great youth – have a look at how many guys were named in the England squad, that suggests Leicester are going to be knocking on the door for the best part of 10 years – but I haven’t got 10 years.

“It complements where I’m at in my career right now to have someone like him, with his calibre and his presence.”