Former England and Leicester international Tom Youngs has spoken of his “loneliness” following the death of his wife Tiffany.
“I’ve had days where I wonder how I’m going to spend the day and I do,” he told the BBC’s Morning programme.
“Never give up hope, days will get easier, life will go on and you can enjoy life.”
Tiffany was first diagnosed with lymph node cancer in 2014 and Youngs pulled out of the English tour to New Zealand that summer to care for her.
He was told he was in remission in 2018, but the cancer later returned after being admitted by former Leicester City captain Youngs. indefinite leave Take care of him again in October 2021.
After his retirement and Tiffany’s death, Tom returned to the family farm, which he says helped him deal with his feelings of “loneliness”.
He said: “I think loneliness takes its toll on you. But I’ve learned, I’ve experienced it, and I’m better for the experience because I have a better way of thinking about life.
“I am very happy to have a farm. I want to work, I want to do this. If you go through what I went through and sit around for too long, you’re going to pass out.”
Youngs also says her nine-year-old daughter Maisie gives her purpose and “responsibility to enjoy life”.
He added: “If you get it right, you’ll have a very resilient little girl who will understand life much earlier than she should have. You make him a person who can go on and achieve more. things in life.
“You can’t be angry about something. I don’t see the benefit of living like this.
“Never give up hope, days get easier, life goes on and you can enjoy life without guilt. It’s all part of the stages of grieving and working through it.”
Youngs played 215 games for Leicester – the majority of his career, alongside brother Ben – and earned 28 England caps and three British and Irish Lions trials in 2013.
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