Ben Youngs Opens Up About Heart Surgery After Training Ground Collapse

Leicester Tigers and England rugby star Ben Youngs has shared his experience of heart troubles after collapsing during an open training session. The 34-year-old halfback recounted the dramatic moment on his podcast, saying, «I had to stop and lay down as my heart was pounding away, and the rain was hitting me in the face.»

Youngs described how, while looking at a small group of fans, he thought, «This is it, this is how I’m gonna go.» His teammate Dan Cole even made a crude joke about him dying while doing something he loves.

Following his collapse, which he now knows was linked to a condition called Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), doctors confirmed that he had previously been living with this issue without realizing it. This type of Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) causes the heart to beat significantly faster than normal.

Youngs explained that he had experienced episodes of this condition throughout his life, but it was only after training that it became clear something was wrong. A hospital visit revealed his heart rate skyrocketed to 200 beats per minute.

During the talk, Youngs mentioned that during screenings before major competitions like the World Cup, his heart health often raised flags. He has also been found to have Ventricular ectopics, which are irregular heartbeats.

Feeling it was important to address the condition, Youngs underwent surgery, which has a 90% success rate. He expressed relief, stating, «My ticker should be all good and it won’t suddenly kick in and go mental.»

Providing details about his surgery, Youngs jokingly hinted at the invasive procedure and the nervousness he felt signing a waiver before receiving anesthesia. Fortunately, he is now on the road to recovery and looks forward to being ready for the new season.

The former international player retired from test rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup and hopes to start the club season in mid-September, fully fit and healthy.