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Ex-England full-back Ben Foden has retired with immediate effect

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ex-England full-back Ben Foden has confirmed his retirement from playing at the age of 36. The 34-time Test cap between 2009 and 2013 has been in America in recent years playing for Rugby United New York since leaving Northampton in 2018. However, he wasn’t rostered for this year’s MLR season and has now taken to Instagram to admit that his playing days are finally over.

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Writing in a social media post that contained five pictures from his career, two in action with Northampton and one each from Sale, New York and England, Foden said: “So after lots of deliberation I’ve decided to finally hang up my playing boots from professional rugby.

“From a young ‘Pop Idol’ starting at @salesharks to 10 years at @northamptonsaints to finally finishing my career with @rugbyunitedny it’s been an 18-year career filled with every emotion possible.

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Foden: Stateside | A RugbyPass Originals Documentary

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Foden: Stateside | A RugbyPass Originals Documentary

“Rugby has given me so much through my lifetime and given me enough memories to keep me smiling for the rest of my days. It’s taken me all over the world and I feel privileged to say it has given me friendships and a family I can always depend on.

“To everyone who has been part of this journey with me, thank you for everything! Rugby really is a wonderful game and has certainly enriched my life. I promise to always, (wherever possible) give back to the game I loved playing so much. Excited for the next chapter in my life and what’s around the corner. Finally thank you Dad for making this incredible journey possible. Foden 15 out ✌️🙌👊 @englandrugby #retired #rugby #saints #sharks #rooster #England.”

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A post shared by Ben Foden (@ben_foden)

Foden, who featured in a warmly received 2019 RugbyPass documentary on his move to American rugby, started 14 times in last year’s MLR campaign for Rugby United New York. They had offered him a deal for the 2022 season but he turned down. “They asked me to play again this year and I declined,” he said in January.

“I wanted a break from rugby to assess where I am. I want to transition from playing into coaching… There are lots of opportunities in America as it’s such a big country and the sport is only just taking off. Over here (in England), it’s saturated, so it’s just about finding what works financially.”

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J
JW 4 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

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