Ben Foden
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| Full name | Benjamin James Foden | ||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 22 July 1985 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Chester, England | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||
| School | Tarporley Community High School Bishop Heber High School Malpas Cheshire Bromsgrove School |
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| University | Manchester University | ||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Rob Foden (Dad)Tom Foden (brother) Kate, Abigail, Miranda (sisters) Aoife Foden (daughter) Tadhg Foden (son) |
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| Spouse | Una Healy (m. 2012) | ||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||
| Current status | |||||||||||||
| Current team | Northampton Saints | ||||||||||||
| Playing career | |||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Scrum-half | ||||||||||||
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| Youth clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | ||
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Crewe & Nantwich , Sandbach, Chester |
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| Professional / senior clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2004–2008 2008- |
Sale Sharks Northampton Saints |
54 212 |
(50) (260) |
| National team(s) | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
|
2005-2006 2007-2008 2009– |
England U16 England U19 England U21 England A England |
34 |
(35) |
| Sevens national teams | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Comps | |
| England | |||
Crewe & Nantwich , Sandbach,
Benjamin James "Ben" Foden (born 22 July 1985 in Chester) is a model and rugby union player who plays for Northampton Saints and England. He plays at fullback or scrum-half, but can also operate on the wing. He scored his first try for England against France in the 2010 Six Nations.
He gained his nickname of 'Pop Idol' or 'Pops' by missing the first day of pre-season with Sale for an audition on the programme.
Foden was educated at Bishop Heber High School in Malpas, Cheshire before moving to Bromsgrove School for sixth form. His Bromsgrove School teacher Paul Mullan was a big influence on his career, as was his dad, Rob, who coached Ben and brother Tom's youth team.
His career has been divided between playing at scrum-half and fullback, though he can also operate on the wing. In an interview in March 2009, Foden accepted that his future lies at playing fullback.
Foden played for Cheshire and North of England U16s, and England U16s. He then went on to play for England U19s, and England Counties.
He joined Sale Sharks in 2004, and Sale Sharks coach Philippe Saint-André saw him primarily as a full-back, commenting after a strong performance from Foden against Newcastle Falcons, "If he's not a full-back I will eat my French beret. There is not a lot of competition among England full-backs and he deserves to go on tour with England – as a full-back not a scrum-half." Despite these ringing words of endorsement from his coach, Foden's desire to play scrum half saw him sign for Northampton Saints on the basis of a promise to play him at his preferred position; a promise that Sale Sharks could not give him, considering his fantastic performances at full-back, and the club presence of England international scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and the arrival of Welsh international Dwayne Peel for the next season. In the 2005–2006 season, Foden played as a replacement in the final as Sale Sharks won their first ever Premiership title.
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