JVP keen to follow in Youngs' footsteps

JACK van Poortvliet has spent his rugby upbringing idolising fellow Norfolk-born scrum-half Ben Youngs and now hopes to step into his sizable shoes for club and country.

- PAUL MARTIN

Youngs is to retire at the end of the season following a career which has seen him become England’s most capped male player, represent the Lions and play more than 300 times for Leicester.

Van Poortvliet could not have asked for anyone better from which to learn his trade at Welford Road and appears to be the 35-year-old’s heir apparent.

It is a task which could appear daunting but van Poortvliet is ready to grasp it with both hands.

"Lenny' has been a huge help to me personally," he said. "He was an idol growing up, particularly as someone growing up in Norfolk. There are not too many people from Norfolk who come through the system, so to have someone like him come through before me was a massive inspiration.

"To then have the ability to learn from him and compete with him has been an absolute blessing.

"He has been a great bloke, a great player on the pitch and someone who will be sorely missed not just at Tigers but in rugby worldwide.

"He will be a hard act to follow. You won't get a bigger Tigers legend at scrum-half but I'll do my best to keep both the shirt and Tigers improving, as he has done throughout his career."