Genge: Tom taught me so much about captaincy

ELLIS Genge admitted it was dislike at first sight when he first met Tom Youngs after joining Leicester from Bristol in 2016, but a respect for each other on the field developed into a firm friendship off it.

Genge replaced Youngs, who last week announced his retirement from the game for family reasons, as Leicester’s captain this season and asked the 28cap England hooker, who played in three Tests for the 2013 Lions, to lead out the team last weekend ahead of the match against

Bristol at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

“He led me out 100 times and I thought it was right for him to do so again,” said England prop Genge, far right. “Tom has close family ties with the club and it was the least we could do. It was all the more fitting because Bristol at home last season was the last time he played for us.

“He was captain when I first joined Leicester. We did not get on for the first two or three seasons, farmer boy meets city boy. We really respected each other on the field and our relationship developed through playing to the point where we got on like a house on fire.

“I was chopsy and as I matured, Tommy learned to love me for who I was. I have so much respect for him. There is no smoke and mirrors with him and I took a lot of good things from him into the captaincy.

“He talked to us in the dressing room before the Bristol game and it was the most emotional match I have ever played in.”

Youngs spent his entire senior career on Leicester’s books and made more than 200 appearances for the club. His father, Nick, played for the club as does his brother, Ben, left, the England scrum-half.

“The opportunity to run out one last time and get closure on his career was important for him and the family,” said Ben. “It was a proud day for Tom and he got the reception he deserved. “Leicester as a club has always been that way inclined and it was no surprise a presentation was made to him afterwards. The support was, as always, incredible. We have a great following in a rugby city.”

Youngs joined Leicester when they were one of the leading forces in the Premiership and Europe. He was captain when they slipped down the table and flirted with relegation, but he never shirked his media duties and always answered questions frankly.

His passion for the club burned and a few weeks after Borthwick took over as head coach in the summer of 2020, Youngs said he had no doubt that Leicester were on their way back to the top.

“Tom has been an incredible player for Leicester and a fantastic leader,” said Borthwick. “He is someone who has a real strength of character and he has been brilliant for the squad since I joined.

“The fans showed their respect to him and he deserved every second of the ovation he received.”