Vale - Michael ‘Yogi’ Young, 1938-2026

Mick or ‘Yogi' as he was simply known to all, passed away suddenly yesterday, surrounded by his family in Armidale Hospital aged 88 years. Yogi had complications from a massive stroke that he suffered earlier in the week, but until then, he had been in good health, so his death was a real shock to everyone and totally unexpected.

Mick was a born and bred Coogee boy who grew up with his sister Cynthia, and it was said they enjoyed a high protein t-bone steak and egg diet, lucking-in with their dad being the local butcher. This no doubt helped contribute to Yogi becoming the giant of a man that he was - both physically and figuratively.

He was educated firstly at St Brigid’s Coogee, then moved down the road to De La Salle, Coogee, before moving onto Waverley College to complete his secondary schooling. While rugby was his main sporting passion, he was also an excellent swimmer and won CAS titles in the pool for Waverley.

Mick’s playing journey at Randwick began in our inaugural Colts team in 1956 where he played with his lifelong mate Mick Stynes - who we also sadly lost earlier this year. He made his Grade debut in Myrtle Green in 1958 and went onto play 222 Grade games until 1970, with 143 of those in First Grade as a tough, hardworking and uncompromising prop. He also scored 12 tries in his 13-year playing career.

Mick was a member of our First-Grade Premiership winning teams in 1965 and 1967, which contained some of the luminaries of Australian rugby in Peter Johnson, John Brass, Denis Cleary, Phil Hawthorne, John Weber, Ken Catchpole, Bill Outterside, Alan Morton, Jeffrey Sayle, plus his old school mate Mick, to name but a few. Yogi was also a member of the victorious Reserve Grade premiership winning teams in 1959 and 1966 - the latter who he captained to Grand Final glory.

His brother-in-law was the late great Alan Norley and in a real family affair, they played together many times for the club that they both loved, which included some of those premiership victories listed above.

At representative level he was also capped for NSW in 1965 and played 3 games for his state. After his playing retirement in 1970, Mick began coaching our lower grades for a few seasons in the early 70’s, before focusing on his career as a pharmacist.

Professionally, Yogi’s original intention was to become a Lawyer, and he commenced studies at Sydney University in that pursuit. However, he soon established that the law wasn’t his cup of tea, maybe swayed after a few trips to the NSW Rugby judiciary, so he switched his path to study Pharmacy.

After graduating, Mick went on to have a successful career as a Pharmacist and became the local Chemist in Havelock Ave, Coogee for many years and a trusted member of our local community. He eventually moved to the bush, firstly to Moree, where he established several Chemist businesses and then after working into his early 80’s, he finally he retired to live in Walcha.

Randwick DRUFC President Brian O'Sullivan said today “We have lost a lovely man. I can’t think of too many in our Wicks community who were as universally well liked and hugely respected as Mick Young was. It's a very sad day for the club”.

On behalf of all at Randwick Rugby, we extend our deepest sympathy to Mick’s sister Cynthia, his daughter Danielle, his three sons, Tim, Julian and Richard, all their families, including his 11 grandchildren, plus his vast array of friends and admirers across so many walks of his remarkable life who he touched.

Funeral details will be provided in due course.

RIP Mick. God, bless you mate and your family.

Up the Wicks!

Mark Harrison

General Manager

Randwick DRUFC

Mick with his daughter Danielle on Grand Final Day 2023!

1965 First Grade Premiers - second row & second from the right.

1967 First Grade Premiers - back row & fourth from the right.