'I have never spoken to Ben Youngs in my life and we have absolutely no interest in Ben Youngs'

Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd has demolished reports that Ben Youngs is being pursued by the club.

Boyd spoke candidly following Saints' loss to Leinster at Franklin Gardens in the Heineken Cup.

Reports last weekend in a number of publications had the Leicester Tigers' and England scrumhalf as a target of their bitter midland's rivals.

Boyd dismissed the rumours in the strongest possible terms.

“I have never spoken to Ben Youngs in my life and we have absolutely no interest in Ben Youngs at Northampton Saints. Is that reasonably clear?” Boyd said.

“We are looking for young guys with potential. Ben Youngs has been wonderful for Leicester and for England. Leicester are his club.

“I am not interested in recruiting a 30-year-old from another club in England. It’s not where we are going.

“You can put that one to bed. It is probably his agent looking for another 100k. Nothing to do with us.”

Youngs, 30, is a four-time Premiership title winner and has over 200 first-team appearances for his only professional club.

He became the club’s youngest-ever league player in his debut at Bristol in April 2007 and also came off the bench in the 2006/07 Premiership Final win over Gloucester before his 18th birthday.

First capped by England in 2010, Youngs remained first choice during their successful 2016/17 campaign and now has 94 caps as well as gaining selection for two tours with the British & Irish Lions.

- Additional reporting Press Association

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