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England and Leicester hooker Tom Youngs is included in Stuart Lancaster’s 50-man training squad for the upcoming World Cup. The Norfolk born hooker tells us about the players we should be keeping an eye out for in September, a typical training week and if he really eats 7,000 calories a day!


Where did it all begin?
It all started at Holt Rugby Club in Norfolk when I was six years old. It was my local club and my cousins played there, as it was just down the road I went along too.

What would it mean to you to play in the World Cup?
It would mean everything and it’s been my main goal for a while now. It’s incredibly exciting to think it’s this year but saying that there is still a long way to go, so I’m aiming just to stay injury free and get into the final squad.

Which players do you think will have the biggest impact?
Julian Savea – New Zealand. He’s a very hard man to stop and can create something out of nothing. Then there’s David Pocock – Australia. He’s been out injured but he’s a quality player so it will be interesting to see how he goes in the World Cup.

Who are England’s toughest opponents going to be?
I think we’ve got a really tough pool. Fiji have nothing to lose… and then Australia and Wales speak for themselves so it is going to be tough. Hopefully if we get through, those difficult matches will stand us in good stead for the quarter final.

What makes up a typical training week?
Match day is usually on a Saturday so Sunday’s are all about recovery. I’ll usually jump on the Wattbike to flush out the legs. Monday is then a lighter day based on upper body weights and pulling. Tuesday is often then heaver which could be lower limb and based on pushing or a Wattbike conditioning session. Wednesdays are a rest day and then Thursdays are usually a power session either on the Wattbike or five metre sprints followed by rugby and then I’ll usually spend some time with the England throwing coach in the afternoon. On Fridays we have the captain’s run, focus on some line outs and just generally make sure we’re feeling good ahead of the match.

Do you really eat 7,000 calories a day!?
I doubt it! On a heavy day I guess that might not be far off, but I don’t really keep count of what I eat or don’t eat. I don’t eat rubbish, it’s the right thing at the right time. We always have breakfast and lunch at the club, and of course there are guys that have really big appetites – but to be honest everyone wolfs it away! It’s what fuels us.

What’s the banter like between you and your brother? (Tom’s brother Ben also plays for England)
My brother is quite cheeky so he likes to take the mick out of me, but we don’t get stuck into each other too much.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional rugby player?
I’d be working on a farm! My family owns a farm in Norfolk and I love spending time there.

What might people be surprised to know about you?
I don’t really have any party tricks, I’m quite an open book really so what you see is what you get.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Vanilla ice cream and farming magazines. Anything to do with farming really!

Tom Youngs is an ambassador for Wattbike, the world’s leading indoor bike. To find out more

visit: www.wattbike.com
Train like Tom

Tom Youngs and his England teammates will be using the Wattbike as one of their key training tools in their preparations for the world’s biggest rugby tournament.

Whether you’re a forward, back or winger, the Wattbike enables the players to train smarter minimising the impact on the players’ bodies, whether it’s recovering from a big match or helping to improve maximum power.The accurate and reliable data means that the England strength and conditioning team can tailor training sessions for individual players.

Why not give one of Tom’s sessions a go for yourself? Remember – everyone has their own specific training zones so you may need to adjust the setting for your own capabilities. You can find out more about this by visiting www.wattbike.com

The following session will help you to increase lactic tolerance:

Warm-up
3 min spin with several 5 sec bursts, resistance 1
Set the resistance to 4/5

BLOCK 1:
Set the resistance to 5
200m as fast as possible (aim for under 12 secs) – 50 secs rest - x 5 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

BLOCK 2:
Set the resistance to 2/3
500m as fast as possible (aim for under 36 secs) – 75 secs rest – x 4 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

BLOCK 3:
Set the resistance to 1/2
750m as fast as possible (aim for under 60 secs) – 90 secs rest – x 2 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

BLOCK 4:
Set the resistance to 4/5
200m as fast as possible (aim for under 22 secs) – 30 secs rest - x 3 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

 



Everyone sets their own personal training zone on the Wattbike to gain maximum training benefits


TEL: +44 (0)115 945 5450
EMAIL:[email protected]
WEB: www.wattbike.com
TWITTER: @wattbike
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/wattbike

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Get HCM digital magazine and ezines FREE
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Jobs    News   Products   Magazine
Promotional feature
Wattbike

England and Leicester hooker Tom Youngs is included in Stuart Lancaster’s 50-man training squad for the upcoming World Cup. The Norfolk born hooker tells us about the players we should be keeping an eye out for in September, a typical training week and if he really eats 7,000 calories a day!


Where did it all begin?
It all started at Holt Rugby Club in Norfolk when I was six years old. It was my local club and my cousins played there, as it was just down the road I went along too.

What would it mean to you to play in the World Cup?
It would mean everything and it’s been my main goal for a while now. It’s incredibly exciting to think it’s this year but saying that there is still a long way to go, so I’m aiming just to stay injury free and get into the final squad.

Which players do you think will have the biggest impact?
Julian Savea – New Zealand. He’s a very hard man to stop and can create something out of nothing. Then there’s David Pocock – Australia. He’s been out injured but he’s a quality player so it will be interesting to see how he goes in the World Cup.

Who are England’s toughest opponents going to be?
I think we’ve got a really tough pool. Fiji have nothing to lose… and then Australia and Wales speak for themselves so it is going to be tough. Hopefully if we get through, those difficult matches will stand us in good stead for the quarter final.

What makes up a typical training week?
Match day is usually on a Saturday so Sunday’s are all about recovery. I’ll usually jump on the Wattbike to flush out the legs. Monday is then a lighter day based on upper body weights and pulling. Tuesday is often then heaver which could be lower limb and based on pushing or a Wattbike conditioning session. Wednesdays are a rest day and then Thursdays are usually a power session either on the Wattbike or five metre sprints followed by rugby and then I’ll usually spend some time with the England throwing coach in the afternoon. On Fridays we have the captain’s run, focus on some line outs and just generally make sure we’re feeling good ahead of the match.

Do you really eat 7,000 calories a day!?
I doubt it! On a heavy day I guess that might not be far off, but I don’t really keep count of what I eat or don’t eat. I don’t eat rubbish, it’s the right thing at the right time. We always have breakfast and lunch at the club, and of course there are guys that have really big appetites – but to be honest everyone wolfs it away! It’s what fuels us.

What’s the banter like between you and your brother? (Tom’s brother Ben also plays for England)
My brother is quite cheeky so he likes to take the mick out of me, but we don’t get stuck into each other too much.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional rugby player?
I’d be working on a farm! My family owns a farm in Norfolk and I love spending time there.

What might people be surprised to know about you?
I don’t really have any party tricks, I’m quite an open book really so what you see is what you get.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Vanilla ice cream and farming magazines. Anything to do with farming really!

Tom Youngs is an ambassador for Wattbike, the world’s leading indoor bike. To find out more

visit: www.wattbike.com
Train like Tom

Tom Youngs and his England teammates will be using the Wattbike as one of their key training tools in their preparations for the world’s biggest rugby tournament.

Whether you’re a forward, back or winger, the Wattbike enables the players to train smarter minimising the impact on the players’ bodies, whether it’s recovering from a big match or helping to improve maximum power.The accurate and reliable data means that the England strength and conditioning team can tailor training sessions for individual players.

Why not give one of Tom’s sessions a go for yourself? Remember – everyone has their own specific training zones so you may need to adjust the setting for your own capabilities. You can find out more about this by visiting www.wattbike.com

The following session will help you to increase lactic tolerance:

Warm-up
3 min spin with several 5 sec bursts, resistance 1
Set the resistance to 4/5

BLOCK 1:
Set the resistance to 5
200m as fast as possible (aim for under 12 secs) – 50 secs rest - x 5 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

BLOCK 2:
Set the resistance to 2/3
500m as fast as possible (aim for under 36 secs) – 75 secs rest – x 4 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

BLOCK 3:
Set the resistance to 1/2
750m as fast as possible (aim for under 60 secs) – 90 secs rest – x 2 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

BLOCK 4:
Set the resistance to 4/5
200m as fast as possible (aim for under 22 secs) – 30 secs rest - x 3 reps
2 mins rest after last rep

 



Everyone sets their own personal training zone on the Wattbike to gain maximum training benefits


TEL: +44 (0)115 945 5450
EMAIL:[email protected]
WEB: www.wattbike.com
TWITTER: @wattbike
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/wattbike

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Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

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