Ben Foden to leave Saints

Northampton Saints have confirmed that fullback Ben Foden will be leaving the Club at the end of the 2017/18 season.

The 32-year-old will hope to round off a decade at Franklin’s Gardens in style by making his 250th appearance in Black, Green and Gold in the final game of the Premiership campaign. 

Foden will lead out Northampton on his final appearance as Saints host Worcester Warriors on Saturday.

After moving to Northampton in 2008 from Sale Sharks where he had already secured a Premiership title, Foden – who began his time at the Club as a scrum-half – soon established himself as one of the best fullbacks in European rugby. 

It took him just one year to claim the first piece of silverware of his Saints tenure, lifting the European Challenge Cup in 2009.   

He came within a whisker of topping that in 2011 as Northampton’s spectacular run to the Heineken Cup final ended in defeat to Leinster, despite his try in the first half of that epic clash.   

Foden remained a pillar of the side during Northampton’s stellar 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns, scoring in consecutive Premiership finals in 2013 and 2014 against Leicester Tigers and Saracens respectively – becoming only the second player achieve the feat.   

He played a remarkable 22 games at fullback during Saints’ double-winning season as Northampton claimed both the Challenge Cup and Premiership titles.   

His exploits at Franklin’s Gardens led to a superb international career also, with Foden – who had represented England at all junior age groups and for the Saxons – earning his first cap in 2009 against Italy.

In total, Foden played 34 times for the Red Rose scoring seven tries, including two during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. And even after earning his Club cap for 200 appearances in the Black, Green and Gold last term, Foden has pushed on again this season and is in line to represent the Club for the 250th time this weekend.