John Robert Chester Young was born in Chester on 6 September 1937 and educated at Bishop Vesey Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield, and Oxford University, where he read law. As well as two rugby Blues (1957 and 1958) he gained three athletics Blues. In 1956 he was AAA champion at 100 yards and his track speed was put to good use playing on the wing for Harlequins. He played nine times for England between 1958 and 1961 and in 1959 scored 14 tries in 14 games (including one test) on the British Isles tour of Australasia. His try tally included four in one game against West Coast-Buller at Greymouth and, seven days later, a hat-trick against a Combined XV at Blenheim. John Young's five appearances for the Barbarians included the victory over South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park in 1961.