Tom Youngs delighted with new role with Tigers
The 23-year-old elder brother of Tigers scrum-half Ben, spent his early years at the club as a bludgeoning centre.
When Heyneke Meyer took over in the summer of 2008, he wanted the 16-stone powerhouse to re-train as a hooker.
For a centre, that is some ask. Can you imagine anyone moving in the opposite direction?
Just 18 months later, at Northampton on Saturday, Youngs made his first start for Leicester in his new position following a lengthy loan spell with Nottingham – and let nobody down.
He admits he is in the early stages of a rebirth that should take "around four years" to get right.
But Youngs is as keen as mustard and believes he is surrounded by the sort of people who could help him make the sort of transition that most backs would laugh off at the very suggestion.
"Heyneke asked me how tall I was and how much did I weigh," he said. "I told him and he said he wanted me to have a go at playing hooker.
"He told me to have a think about it, but it didn't really take much thinking about because I have always loved the physicality of the game and always taken an interest in the front row.
"I used to ask Dan Cole to have one-to-one scrums with me and was always asking him what it was like in there. It wasn't a tough decision to make.
"It was slow at the start because I wasn't getting much game-time. Then I went to Nottingham and they put me in the mix and let me have a go.
"I have started pretty much every game there for them this season and I have learned so much by doing so.
"Physically, I have had to work on my shoulders, neck, back and core muscles.
"It's a different game fitness-wise too, because it is such a slog as a forward, you have to keep going and don't get the rests that you do in the backs.
"I am getting there, but you always want better and you always want more."
Youngs will be the first to admit that the technical nature of the line-out throw is one of the hardest things to master.
But playing against teams such as Northampton and having a head coach in Richard Cockerill who knows a thing or two about the art of the No.2, can only help him get better.
"It's good to get opportunities to play against a side like the Saints with such a great line-out defence because the pressure is really on. I will make mistakes but Richard Cockerill says if it goes wrong, just get on with it.
"Cockers, Mefin Davies and George Chuter are all keen to help me and want me do well, going through games with me and giving up their time to help me out.
"I write down the things they tell me and try to do it when I get out there.
"It's nice to see my game coming on when things go well but I don't want to get too ahead of the game. I know it will take me probably three or four years of hard work."
Cockerill was pleased with the way Youngs is tackling his tremendously difficult task.
"He was really good at Northampton. The line-out stuff is going to be a little bit hard for him but the only way to get around that is to do it," said Cockerill.
"Some of his stuff, particularly in the loose and in the scrum, was superb. That part of his game was really good.
"What I like about him is that, if he makes a mistake, it won't worry him and he will just get on with it. His attitude is outstanding."
Youngs took another step in the right direction with his line-outs, was solid in the scrum and made some serious carries in the loose, often taking three or four Saints with him as he made some big yards around the fringes.
His full debut at hooker ended in defeat, but Youngs says there is a good feeling around the club with the Guinness Premiership the only competition left to focus on.
"A lot of boys have been rested for the last few weeks," he said. "I have been speaking to them this week and they have a skip in their step and can't wait to get back into it.
"It's great to see and I think we should rumble on really well in the Premiership now and probably go on to win it."
Tom Youngs
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