Proud. Emotional. Gutted. These three words encapsulate the whirlwind of emotions felt by Leicester Tigers legend Ben Youngs as he concluded his storied rugby union career with a heart-wrenching 23-21 defeat to Bath in the Premiership Grand Final. England's most-capped male player came off the bench with 26 minutes remaining, showcasing the ingenuity and influence that defined his nearly two-decade tenure at scrum-half for the Tigers. Despite his efforts, Bath clinched their first Premiership title in 29 years.

"It hurts, but I'm proud," Youngs confessed to BBC Radio Leicester. "My emotions are all over the place right now. You have so much ambition to win today, and when you don't, it's a tough pill to swallow."

The match was a grueling contest under the sun, with both teams pushing their limits. Leicester faced setbacks, including a sin-bin for prop Dan Cole, which allowed Bath's Finn Russell to seal the victory with a crucial kick. Despite a late converted try by Emeka Ilione, the Tigers couldn't overcome the deficit.

Youngs acknowledged the monumental effort required to challenge Bath, a team that had already secured the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup earlier in the season. The loss also marked the end of Michael Cheika's one-year tenure as Leicester's head coach. Cheika expressed his disappointment, stating, "I just feel sorry that I didn't prepare the guys well enough to get them what they deserved today."

For Youngs, missing out on a sixth Premiership title doesn't diminish the pride he feels for his contributions to the sport. "The ink is dry, I'm proud of my contribution, and I'll miss it," he said. "But I'll forever be a Leicester fan now."