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 40)
Place of birth	Chester, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
School	Bromsgrove School Tarporley High School Bishop Heber High School
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 a famous English rugby union player. He played for Rugby United New York (RUNY) in Major League Rugby (MLR). Ben is known for playing as a fullback or scrum-half. He also played as a wing.

Ben Foden represented England 34 times between 2009 and 2013. He is a talented athlete who has played for several top clubs.

Ben Foden's Rugby Journey

Ben Foden's rugby career has seen him play in different positions. He often switched between playing as a scrum-half and a fullback. He could also play on the wing. In 2009, he decided that playing fullback was his main role.

Ben started playing rugby at a young age. He played for Cheshire and North of England Under-16 teams. He also played for the England Under-16 team. Later, he joined the England Under-19 and England Counties teams.

Playing for Clubs

Ben Foden joined Sale Sharks in 2004. He wanted to play as a scrum-half. However, Sale Sharks often played him at fullback because he was so good there. The club also had other strong scrum-halves.

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 earned the nickname "Pop Idol" or "Pops." This was because he missed his first day of pre-season training with the Sharks to audition for a TV show.

Time with Northampton Saints

Ben then signed with Northampton Saints in 2008. He hoped to play scrum-half there. However, Lee Dickson often played scrum-half for Northampton. So, Ben frequently played as a fullback.

In the 2008–09 season, Ben helped the Saints win the European Challenge Cup. This was a big achievement for the team.

In May 2014, Ben Foden helped Northampton win the Aviva Premiership title. He played the entire final match against Saracens at fullback and scored a try.

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.

Moving to Rugby United New York

In July 2018, Rugby United New York announced that Ben Foden would join them. He played for them in the 2019 Major League Rugby Season. He continued to play for them until 2022.

Playing for England

Ben Foden was part of the England Under-21 team for the 2005 and 2006 Six Nations and World Championships. He was a key player in the 2006 Grand Slam winning England U21 squad. He played in all five matches and scored three tries.

He also played for the England Sevens team in 2006/7 and 2007/8. He joined the England Saxons team in 2008.

First England Caps

Ben was chosen for the England squad for the Six Nations on January 14, 2009. He earned his first cap (official appearance) for England against Italy on February 7, 2009. He came on as a substitute at scrum-half, and England won the game.

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.

Key Player for England

Ben kept his starting spot for England's tour to Australia. He played alongside his club teammate Chris Ashton. England won the second Test match against Australia.

Ben was a very important player for England. He was known for his strong runs and for gaining a lot of metres on the field. He was selected for England's 2011 World Cup squad. He remained the first-choice fullback during England's World Cup campaign.

International Tries Scored

Ben Foden scored several tries for England in international matches. Here is a list of his official tries:

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

Life Outside Rugby

Ben Foden has also appeared on television shows.

TV Appearances

In October 2019, Ben was a contestant on The X Factor: Celebrity. He was part of a group called Try Star, along with Levi Davis and Thom Evans. They made it to the semi-final of the show.

In January 2022, Ben Foden 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 competition.

Family 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 in 2012, and a son named Tadhg, born in 2015. Ben and Una separated in July 2018.

Ben later married Jackie Belanoff-Smith in 2019. On May 20, 2020, Ben and Jackie welcomed their daughter, Farrah.

See also

In Spanish: Ben Foden para niños