Ex-England Rugby Star Tom Youngs Swaps Scrums for Burgers on Norfolk Farm
BBC Business reported Tuesday that former England rugby international Tom Youngs has swapped elite sport for something far more grounded: a burger stall on the family’s Norfolk farm. The ex-Leicester Tigers hooker says the weekend venture has already become a favourite with local families.
From the Premiership to the Paddock
Youngs, 39, set up a pop-up called “Scrums and Buns” in a field on his father Nick’s farm near Aylsham, Norfolk. The stall operates alongside a small bar and is run as a partnership with his cousin George and a professional caterer. Extended family members pitch in across the operation. Youngs told BBC Radio Norfolk he had always wanted to build something like this, but had needed the confidence to finally act. He said the early response had exceeded his expectations.
The venture sits within a broader strategy of farm diversification, which Youngs described as essential for agricultural businesses under current economic conditions. Arable farming alone, he suggested, is no longer sufficient to sustain rural operations.
A Career Built on Family Ties
Youngs is arguably the most recognisable member of a deeply rugby-rooted family. His father Nick played scrum-half for Leicester in the 1980s and was the first in the family to earn international recognition. Tom followed, earning 28 England caps and winning the Premiership title with Leicester in 2013. That same year he toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions.
His younger brother Ben, England’s most-capped player, retired from Leicester Tigers last season. Ben is now a regular at the stall on weekends, turning up with his children and occasionally signing autographs for young rugby fans. Tom noted the crossover appeal with warmth.
Reconnecting Families With Farming
Beyond the business case, Youngs framed the stall as a social initiative. He pointed to what he called a growing disconnect between communities and the countryside. Getting children onto working farms, he argued, opens conversations about food production and environmental stewardship in ways that formal education rarely does.
Youngs has spoken previously about how returning to farm work helped him cope with profound personal loss. His wife Tiffany died shortly after his retirement from professional rugby in 2022, and he has credited the physical and purposeful nature of farm life with helping him through that period.
The burger stall represents a new chapter on familiar ground. For a man who once played in a Rugby World Cup, he says weekends with families in a Norfolk field feel equally rewarding.
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