England's Ben Youngs has revealed the close bond he shares with his brother in a tearful interview with the RFU's podcast.
The vastly-experienced scrum-half says he had spent every day of his life with his brother, Tom, who was his team-mate at Leicester Tigers and with England.
But he admits there is now a 'void' in his life with Tom now on 'indefinite' leave from the club as he cares for his wife, Tiffany, who is battling serious illness.
The pair have been in the same team their entire careers and when they faced Bristol in June last year, they didn't know it would likely be the last time they'd play together.
Hooker Tom did not feature at the start of the 2021/22 season before being placed on leave.
Ben couldn't hide his emotions as he spoke on the matter.
"I couldn't have asked for a better sibling, to be honest with you," Youngs told the RFU's O2 Inside Line podcast.
"I have seen my brother every day of the year for 32 years. Growing up with him and then obviously being a professional rugby player with him.
"When he left in September and had to go back, it's been a strange time, it's been a tough time. I confide in my brother a lot with what happens professionally because he gets a lot of the things.
"For me, there's a void. There's a bit of an emptiness at the moment because I don't get to see him as much as I'd like.
"It's, kind of, probably taught me and reinforced just how important we are for each other.
"It's weird to think that we've had all those years together, playing and all that, and it's sort of finishing. I wish I knew that was going to be the last time, you know.
Struggling to hold back the tears, he added: "It's a tough subject."
In 2014, Tom's wife Tiffany was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. The disease was later found to be terminal and Ben pulled out of the 2017 Lions tour to support his family, having been named in the squad by Warren Gatland.
Tiffany's cancer later went in to remission but the scrum-half's attitude spoke volumes.
And the regard he holds his brother in is clear.
"You've got A grade talent but B grade attitude - I'm not sure people have come across this terminology buy Tom was an example of A grade attitude and probably B grade talent," he added.
"His desire and hard work to improve, get better and never fall short on what his own person standards are have allowed him to have a great career.
"I can't speak highly enough of him.
"He's probably the most mentally strong bloke I've ever come across. To know him is to love him. He's hugely inspirational in terms of how he's dealt with things and how he continues to tackle things front on.
"He's obviously done a leadership role at the club, when he was captain, and things have had to be cut a little bit shorter than we would have liked."
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