Beyond the Line: My Life in Rugby

by Ben Youngs

'Moving' – The Guardian

In his unique, touching and honest memoir, rugby union legend Ben Youngs bares it all for the first time.

Ben Youngs has had a dream career. He was born into rugby royalty and has achieved incredible success with both his family club, Leicester Tigers, and the English men's national team, for whom he is the most capped player of all time. His is an on-field legacy that any rugby player would envy.

But there’s more to his story than meets the eye.

In this deeply intimate memoir, the English rugby legend reveals how his remarkable record on the pitch masks what was, at times, a turbulent life off it. There have been the 2019 World Cup final; a record-equalling eighteen-match unbeaten streak under Eddie Jones; finding friendship, brotherhood and a home at Leicester Tigers. But there have also been losing two family members to terminal illnesses within a year; withdrawing from the Lions tour in 2017; falling out of love with rugby.

In Beyond the Line, Ben – the five-time Premiership champion and member of the winning 2013 Lions Test tour – shares his full story with the public. With remarkable candour, wit and warmth, he writes of how his relationship with rugby proved pivotal to his healing process and vividly recounts the raucous nights and spontaneous adventures that only those within the inner circle typically get to witness. Inspirational and open, his story reveals not just the pressures of competition, but also the camaraderie and wild experiences that come with a life in rugby.

Genres: Nonfiction

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

Reviews

[Ben Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of dull, book and player….admittedly, one of the greats (player, not book)

[Jack Fitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally read autobiographies however I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I’ve been a big fan of Ben youngs since I was young and to read this brought back memories of watching England play rugby. Having met him at Leicester, he was a sound bloke, and despite knowing results and outcomes of games, I was rooting for him regardless. #comeonyouquins

[Jenna Grewcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable listen to hear his story

[Tiago Relvão · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Line is a light and enjoyable sports biography. Ben Youngs is England’s most-capped men’s player, which in itself gives him plenty of material — and probably the right — to tell his story.

What makes the book interesting is the breadth of his career. He played through several generations of England teams, experienced multiple World Cups, including the successful run to the 2019 World Cup final, and spent his entire club career at Leicester Tigers. It gives you a good view of how English rugby evolved over that period, seen from inside the dressing room.

It’s an easy read, with plenty of interesting and funny stories about teammates, coaches and life as a professional rugby player. But there is also a deeper side to the book. Youngs talks openly about his personal life, loss and grief, and the pressure that comes with playing rugby at the highest level for so many years.

That contrast is probably what I enjoyed most: behind the matches, tours and dressing-room stories, you get a reminder of the person behind the player and what professional athletes sometimes have to deal with away from the pitch.

Overall, nothing too heavy or groundbreaking, but a very enjoyable rugby biography and a good insight into one of the longest international careers in English rugby.

[mark buswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good until chapter 13

Really enjoyed the book until chapter 13 what is he thinking when he says turn it into a summer sport and reduce the sides to 14 players