Ben Youngs out, Lions icon in? Leicester line up stunning scrum-half swap

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The 35-year-old scrum-half, who has racked up a remarkable 127 caps for England, also boasts four Six Nations titlesand five Premiership crowns with Leicester Tigers.

Youngs burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced 17-year-old back in April 2007, becoming Leicester’s youngest-ever Premiership player. Fast forward to this weekend, and he made his 332nd appearance for the club during their victory over Bristol — a true one-club stalwart.

Youngs’ departure will leave a noticeable void at Welford Road. With Jack van Poortvliet the only senior scrum-half currently on the books — and expected to be missing during England duty — the Tigers are already eyeing up reinforcements.

One surprise name reportedly on Leicester’s shortlist is none other than Ireland great Conor Murray. The 35-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to confirm whether he’ll be continuing his playing career.

Murray, who signed a one-year extension with Munster last year, remains a reliable figure when fit. But with international retirement expected after the 2025 Six Nations, he’s weighing up his next move.

With Handré Pollard — the club’s highest-paid star — set to leave Welford Road at season’s end, Leicester are expected to make some big moves in the transfer market.

Reports suggest they’ll replace the South African World Cup winner with Welsh playmaker Gareth Anscombe, currently with Gloucester.

Could we be seeing Murray and Anscombe steering the ship at Tigers next season? Watch this space.

It gave head coach Steve Borthwick more control than ever, including the final word on all sports science and medical matters.

Among the big winners were George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith – all three fly-halves receiving upgraded deals ahead of the autumn internationals.

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But fast forward six months, and not all those golden ticket holders are sitting pretty. We take a look at three players who could be on the chopping block ahead of the next round of central contract decisions.

Slade’s silky style has long made him a favourite with fans – but his Six Nations was anything but smooth. Once pencilled in as a midfield maestro, he now finds himself completely out of Borthwick’s 23.

His combination with Ollie Lawrence never quite clicked, and although there were flickers of promise, it wasn't enough to convince the coaches. Slade was ultimately cast aside in favour of Fraser Dingwall, and now his England future – and his central contract – looks seriously uncertain.

Possible replacement: Fraser Dingwall

The mid-Six Nations switch that saw him take Slade's place has given Dingwall a solid opportunity to make a real push for a long-term role in the squad. A gritty and intelligent player, he’s an ideal fit in the centre and could continue his rise with consistent performances.

Dan looked to be the hooker-in-waiting not long ago, but with Luke Cowan-Dickie back in the mix and firing, the Saracen has tumbled down the pecking order.

He managed just a single appearance in the 2025 Six Nations, coming off the bench late against Ireland when the game was already slipping away.

He gave it his all and made his presence felt in the collisions, but the timing didn’t allow for a real impact.

With Jamie George still first choice and LCD surging back, Dan might be sweating over that central contract renewal.

Possible replacement: Luke Cowan-Dickie

With the England hooker pool still fairly tight, LCD’s return to form after a spell on the sidelines could see him leapfrog others back into the starting role. His set-piece mastery and work rate up front could be enough to secure him a spot, especially with competition thinning out.

Here’s the big one. Ford, the experienced general with nearly a century of caps, has found himself on the fringes thanks to Fin Smith’s electric rise.

He only got a sliver of game time during the Championship – a brief stint against Wales – but what a cameo it was.

Two assists and a masterclass in game management. Classic Ford: overlooked, underrated, but undeniably brilliant.

With both Smiths tipped for Lions duty this summer, Ford will have a golden window to remind everyone – including Borthwick – why he still deserves that England contract.

Possible replacement: Jack van Poortvliet (this would even up the squad with two scrum-halves and two fly-halves)

A real option for the future at scrum-half, van Poortvliet could offer Borthwick the ideal balance in the half-back department. With the potential for two fly-halves and two scrum-halves in the squad, van Poortvliet's dynamism and composure could provide the extra spark needed to even things out.