Ben Foden
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Foden is a rugby union
footballer 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 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.
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.
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.
He began his Northampton Saints
career competing with Lee Dickson
for the scrum half position, however he was still utilised in his position of full back. Dickson won the battle for the scrum half shirt, and Northampton frequently used Foden in the position of full back. Many fine performances confirmed Foden's great potential at full back and has since become a regular fixture in the number 15 jersey for both club and country. In the 2008–09 season, he helped the Saints win the European Challenge Cup.
, and the 2006 Six Nations and World Championship
. Foden was a member of the 2006 Grand Slam winning England U21 squad, playing in all five matches and notching up three tries. He went on to play at the IRB U21 World Championships later that year, sharing the number 9 jersey with Danny Care. He played for the England Sevens in 2006/7 and 2007/8, and the at the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup against USA before being included in the England Elite Playing Squad.
Foden was named in the England Elite Playing Squad
for the Six Nations
on 14 January 2009, and earned his first cap for the England v match on 7 February 2009 when he came on as a replacement at scrum-half for Harry Ellis
, with England winning 36–11.
He was included in the England squad for the 2009 summer tour against the Barbarians
and Argentina
and made his first start for England
in the uncapped game against the Barbarians on 30 May 2009, a game which saw him playing on the wing and scoring a try
in the 32nd minute.
Despite fullback Delon Armitage
being injured for the 2009 Investec Autumn Internationals, Foden was not included in the squad – manager Martin Johnson instead preferring to play wings Ugo Monye
and Mark Cueto
out of position. By the 2010 Six Nations, Armitage was fit again, though a series of below par performances saw Foden seize the 15 shirt, with substitute performances against and , before gaining his first Test start against . An improved performance by the England side saw Foden score his first try in a Test match, though the team lost 12–10.
Foden retained his starting place for the summer tour to , playing with club colleague Chris Ashton
. Although England lost the first Test, they won the second 20–21. Foden cited this as his greatest day as a rugby player. He also featured as a replacement in an uncapped game for England against the side.
He also had the distinction of gaining more metres (100.6) in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations than any other player in the Championship. Teammate Chris Ashton was third with 74, half a metre behind Maxime Médard, of France.
He was named in the elite player squad for the 2010–11 season.
from girlband The Saturdays
with whom he is expecting a child.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. He plays at fullback or scrum-half, but can also operate on the wing. He scored his first try for England against in the 2010 Six Nations.
He gained his nickname of 'Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
' or 'Pops' by missing the first day of pre-season with Sale for an audition on the programme.
Career
Foden was educated at Bishop Heber High SchoolBishop Heber High School
Bishop Heber High School is a comprehensive secondary school and specialist languages college in Malpas, Cheshire. The school itself is named after Reginald Heber who was an English bishop born in Malpas, Cheshire and is now remembered chiefly as a hymn-writer.-Notable alumni:*Ben Foden, Rugby...
in Malpas
Malpas, Cheshire
Malpas is a large village which used to be a market town, and it is also a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish lies on the border with Shropshire and Wales...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
before moving to Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
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.
Club
He joined Sale SharksSale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in 2004, and Sale Sharks coach Philippe Saint-André
Philippe Saint-André
Philippe Georges Saint-André is a former French rugby union footballer who earned 69 test caps for France between 1990 and 1997, 34 of them as captain. His preferred position was wing but he could also play at Fullback. After retiring, Saint-André found success as a rugby coach in both England and...
saw him primarily as a full-back, commenting after a strong performance from Foden against Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
, "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
Richard Wigglesworth (rugby player)
Richard Eric Peter Wigglesworth is an English rugby union player for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership.Born in Blackpool, England, Wigglesworth's position of choice is as a scrum-half and can also operate as a fly-half or as a winger....
and the arrival of Welsh international Dwayne Peel
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne John Peel is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Sale Sharks and Wales. He is the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team....
for the next season.
He began his Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
career competing with Lee Dickson
Lee Dickson
Lee Dickson is a rugby union footballer who plays at scrum-half for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership....
for the scrum half position, however he was still utilised in his position of full back. Dickson won the battle for the scrum half shirt, and Northampton frequently used Foden in the position of full back. Many fine performances confirmed Foden's great potential at full back and has since become a regular fixture in the number 15 jersey for both club and country. In the 2008–09 season, he helped the Saints win the European Challenge Cup.
International
He was included in the England U21s team for the 2005 Six Nations and World Championships2005 Under 21 Rugby World Championship
The 2005 Under 21 Rugby World Championship was played in Argentina throughout June 2005. The final was played between South Africa and Australia at Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza...
, and the 2006 Six Nations and World Championship
2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship
The 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship was played in the Auvergne region of France throughout June 2006. The final was played between South Africa and France at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, which saw France win 24 to 13....
. Foden was a member of the 2006 Grand Slam winning England U21 squad, playing in all five matches and notching up three tries. He went on to play at the IRB U21 World Championships later that year, sharing the number 9 jersey with Danny Care. He played for the England Sevens in 2006/7 and 2007/8, and the at the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup against USA before being included in the England Elite Playing Squad.
Foden was named in the England Elite Playing Squad
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
for the Six Nations
2009 Six Nations Championship
The 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
on 14 January 2009, and earned his first cap for the England v match on 7 February 2009 when he came on as a replacement at scrum-half for Harry Ellis
Harry Ellis
Harry Alistair Ellis is a retired English rugby union footballer who played scrum half for Leicester Tigers, England and the British & Irish Lions....
, with England winning 36–11.
He was included in the England squad for the 2009 summer tour against the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
and Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
and made his first start for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in the uncapped game against the Barbarians on 30 May 2009, a game which saw him playing on the wing and scoring a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in the 32nd minute.
Despite fullback Delon Armitage
Delon Armitage
Delon Anthony Armitage is a rugby union footballer who plays at wing or fullback for London Irish and England. He also occasionally plays centre and often does place kicking, mainly from a distance or if the regular kicker is unable to take it.From 1996 to 2002, Armitage lived in...
being injured for the 2009 Investec Autumn Internationals, Foden was not included in the squad – manager Martin Johnson instead preferring to play wings Ugo Monye
Ugo Monye
Ugochukwu "Ugo" Chiedozie Monye is an English international rugby union player who plays club rugby for Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership....
and Mark Cueto
Mark Cueto
Mark John "Frank" Cueto is an English international rugby union player. He plays on the wing for Sale Sharks and England.-Biography:...
out of position. By the 2010 Six Nations, Armitage was fit again, though a series of below par performances saw Foden seize the 15 shirt, with substitute performances against and , before gaining his first Test start against . An improved performance by the England side saw Foden score his first try in a Test match, though the team lost 12–10.
Foden retained his starting place for the summer tour to , playing with club colleague Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union...
. Although England lost the first Test, they won the second 20–21. Foden cited this as his greatest day as a rugby player. He also featured as a replacement in an uncapped game for England against the side.
He also had the distinction of gaining more metres (100.6) in the 2011 RBS 6 Nations than any other player in the Championship. Teammate Chris Ashton was third with 74, half a metre behind Maxime Médard, of France.
He was named in the elite player squad for the 2010–11 season.
International tries
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Stade de France Stade de France The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for... |
Six Nations 2010 Six Nations Championship The 2010 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2010 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 11th series of the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition between the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams... |
Lost | ||
| 2 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
Twickenham Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000... |
Test match | Lost | ||
| 3 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
Twickenham Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000... |
Six Nations 2011 Six Nations Championship The 2011 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2011 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the Six Nations Championship. The annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy,... |
Won | ||
| 4 | Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... , New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Dunedin | World Cup 2011 Rugby World Cup The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005... |
Won | ||
| 5 | Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... , New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Eden Park Eden Park Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable... |
World Cup 2011 Rugby World Cup The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005... |
Lost |
Personal life
Foden is currently in a long-term relationship with Irish singer, Una HealyUna Healy
Una Theresa Imogene Healy is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician, best known for being one fifth of girl group The Saturdays...
from girlband The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
with whom he is expecting a child.