What Tom Youngs is doing this weekend is incredible and heartbreaking in so, so many ways

Tom Youngs is going through what no husband should ever have to endure so soon into married life.

The Leicester, England and Lions hooker was recently delivered the crushing news that his wife, Tiffany Youngs, was terminally ill with cancer.

Tiffany Youngs had battled, and beaten, the disease back in 2014 but, as is so tragically often the case, it returned and did its worse. Her family were rocked by the diagnosis and Tom’s brother, Ben Youngs has withdrawn from the 2017 Lions squad to be with them over the coming, difficult weeks.

Somehow, through all Tom Youngs is going through, he has decided to continue playing with Leicester Tigers.

This weekend sees Leicester taking on Wasps in the Aviva Premiership semi-finals and Youngs will be leading from the front. Their head coach, Matt O’Connor told The Telegraph:

“He has used it as an escape in certain regards over the course of Tiff’s illness. He understands that he needs to continue that.”

“His leadership has been exceptional,” Tigers teammate Dan Cole added. “Obviously recent news has occurred and that has been going on all season.

“How he has been able to focus purely on rugby and leading the side is incredible.”

While some might question whether a heartbroken Youngs would be better served staying at home, former England international Ugo Monye brought home how rugby has been so crucial in the lives of the young couple. He told 5 Live:

“These could be the last moments that he wife actually gets to see him playing rugby and he wants to share that with his brother, who has made the sacrifice of not going on the tour.” 

"He's been so selfless"

Tom Youngs has continued playing rugby knowing his wife is terminally ill.https://t.co/Igazb71SOV pic.twitter.com/cbhn6PNHZB

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) May 17, 2017

Monye reckons Leicester will be fully charged to deliver for their club captain this weekend and tipped them to have the edge over free-scoring Wasps.

Most of us would be struggling to push on and push through these dreadfully difficult days but Tom Youngs is doing just that with the blessing of his tenacious, loving wife. One can’t help but hope he can help Leicester get what they are looking for over the coming weeks.

For his teammates, the feeling will be mutual.

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