Tom Youngs reveals loneliness after his wife Tiffany's death last year

msn.com:

following the death of his wife Tiffany last year. Tiffany was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma - a form of blood cancer - shortly after the birth of daughter Maisie in 2014.

Three years later she was told her illness would be terminal and, despite being told she was in remission in 2018, lost her fight with the disease at the age of 35.

Youngs had taken indefinite leave in October 2021 to care for Tiffany, before announcing his retirement in April, shortly before her death.

The former England and Leicester hooker told BBC Breakfast he had struggled with loneliness following Tiffany's death. 'I think the loneliness really hits you,' Youngs said. 'It wasn’t until the dark nights came in during the winter time, when it gets dark at 4pm. 'You start ringing people but it is still not the same, it is still not the same as having someone there alongside you to talk to. ‘But I have learned and I have gone through that and I am better for that experience because my reflection on life is better. ‘If you try to stop life I think you get yourself in a real pickle. ‘I've had days where I've thought how am I going to get through the day and I did, you have to be proud of that step. ’Youngs is now working on the family farm, which he believes has helped with the grieving process.