Ben Foden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ben Foden

Ben Foden playing for Northampton in 2012
Birth name	Benjamin James Foden
Date of birth	(1985-07-22) 22 July 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Chester, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
School	Bromsgrove School VIth Form Tarporley Community High School Bishop Heber High School Malpas Cheshire
University	Manchester University
Spouse	Una Healy ​ ​ (m. 2012; divorced Jackie Belanoff Smith ​ (m. 2019)​  2019)​
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing Current team Rugby United New York Youth Career Crewe & Nantwich, Sandbach, Chester Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–2008 Sale Sharks 54 (50) 2008–2018 Northampton Saints 250 (290) 2019–2022 Rugby United New York 35 (20) Correct as of 1 May 2022 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2005–2006 England U21 2 (0) 2007–2008 England A () 2009–2013 England 34 (35)

Benjamin James Foden (born on July 22, 1985) is an English rugby union player. He is known for playing as a fullback or scrum-half. He also sometimes plays on the wing. Ben played for the England national team 34 times between 2009 and 2013. He currently plays for Rugby United New York (RUNY) in Major League Rugby (MLR).

Ben Foden's Rugby Career

Ben Foden has played in different positions on the rugby field. He often played as a scrum-half or a fullback. He could also play on the wing. Over time, he mostly played as a fullback.

Before becoming a professional, Ben played for younger teams. He played for Cheshire and North of England teams when he was under 16. He also played for the England U16s and England U19s teams.

Playing for Clubs

Ben joined Sale Sharks in 2004. He wanted to play as a scrum-half. However, Sale Sharks often played him as a fullback. This was because he was very good in that position.

In the 2005–2006 season, Ben helped Sale Sharks win their first ever Premiership title. He came on as a substitute in the final match.

He later signed with Northampton Saints in 2008. He hoped to play scrum-half there. But he often played as a fullback for Northampton too. In the 2008–09 season, he helped the Saints win the European Challenge Cup.

In May 2014, Ben won the Aviva Premiership title with Northampton. He played the whole final match against Saracens at fullback. He even scored a try in that game.

During the 2016-17 season, Ben mostly played on the wing. He scored five tries that season. One of these tries helped Saints get into the European Rugby Champions Cup.

After playing for Northampton for ten years, Ben left the club at the end of the 2017/18 season. In July 2018, he signed with Rugby United New York for the 2019 Major League Rugby Season.

Playing for England

Ben was part of the England U21s team in 2005 and 2006. He helped the England U21 squad win the Grand Slam in 2006. He played in all five matches and scored three tries.

He also played for the England Sevens team in 2006/7 and 2007/8. Then he played for the England Saxons team in 2008. After that, he was chosen for the main England Elite Playing Squad.

Ben earned his first cap (which means his first official game) for the England national team on February 7, 2009. This was during the Six Nations match against Italy. England won that game 36–11.

He made his first start for England in an unofficial game against the Barbarians on May 30, 2009. He played on the wing and scored a try in that match.

By the 2010 Six Nations, Ben became England's starting fullback. He scored his first try in a Test match against France. England lost that game 12–10.

Ben kept his starting spot for the summer tour to Australia. England won the second Test match 20–21. He was also a substitute in an unofficial game against the New Zealand Maori team.

Ben was a very important player for England in 2010 and 2011. He helped England beat Australia twice in 2010. He also started all of England's Six Nations games in 2011. He gained more metres than any other player in the 2011 Six Nations. Ben was chosen for England's 2011 World Cup squad.

Television Appearances

In October 2019, Ben Foden was a contestant on The X Factor: Celebrity. He was part of a group called Try Star. They finished in fifth place in the competition.

In January 2022, Ben was a contestant on the fourteenth series of Dancing on Ice. He was paired with professional skater Robin Johnstone. They were the first couple to be eliminated from the show.

International Tries

Ben Foden scored several tries for England in international matches:

Try	Opposing team	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
†	Barbarian F.C.	London, England	Twickenham	Summer International	30 May 2009	Lost
1	France	Paris, France	Stade de France	Six Nations	20 March 2010	Lost
2	South Africa	London, England	Twickenham	Test match	27 November 2010	Lost
3	France	London, England	Twickenham	Six Nations	26 February 2011	Won
4	Romania	Dunedin, New Zealand	Dunedin	World Cup	24 September 2011	Won
5	France	Auckland, New Zealand	Eden Park	World Cup	8 October 2011	Lost
6	France	Paris, France	Stade de France	2012 Six Nations	11 March 2012	Won
7	South Africa	Durban, South Africa	Mr Price Kings Park	Test match	9 June 2012	Lost

† Full international cap not awarded for Barbarians Test match

Personal Life

Ben Foden married Una Healy from the girl group The Saturdays on June 30, 2012. They had two children together: a daughter named Aoife (born 2012) and a son named Tadhg (born 2015). Ben and Una separated in July 2018.

Ben later married Jackie Belanoff-Smith in 2019. On May 20, 2020, Jackie gave birth to their daughter, Farrah.

See also

In Spanish: Ben Foden para niños