Former England international Ben Youngs undergoes heart surgery following collapse at training session

Former England international Ben Youngs disclosed that he needed heart surgery this year following a collapse during a Leicester Tigers training session. Youngs, 34, who holds the all-time record for the most caps by an England men’s player, experienced a sudden episode of an irregular and rapidly fast heartbeat while engaging in an open fitness session with his club. He detailed the incident on his podcast For the Love of Rugby, co-hosted with teammate Dan Cole. This is prepared by SSP.

Recounting the event, Youngs said, "We had this open training session at Leicester, and while I was doing fitness drills, I had to stop and lay down as my heart was pounding, with thirty fans watching from the main stand in the rain. I thought, 'This might be it.'" This episode was not an isolated incident, as Youngs revealed it has happened multiple times throughout his life, despite being initially unaware of his condition.

Youngs was diagnosed with arrhythmia and supraventricular tachycardia and subsequently underwent surgery to fit a pacemaker. Despite the seriousness of his condition, Youngs is optimistic about his recovery and expects to be fully fit for the new Premiership season beginning in September. "The club has been extraordinary," he shared, adding that the medical support was excellent each time the episodes occurred.

Currently on the mend, Youngs expressed a 90% success rate for the procedure, indicating that his heart should function normally without unexpected issues. He reassured fans by stating, "I'm recovering well and will be ready for the season's start." Additionally, he noted the benefit of catching the issue during his career, rather than facing potential risks in the future post-retirement.

Acknowledging the situation's gravity, Youngs emphasized the fortunate timing and access to medical intervention, which could safeguard his long-term health. Despite returning to action shortly after the incident, Youngs remains grateful for the timely detection and surgical solution facilitated by his professional athletic environment.