James Fender

Last updated

James Fender
Birth nameJames Christopher Fender
Date of birth (2001-08-03) 3 August 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
Height200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Weight121 kg (19 st 1 lb)
School Bishopston Comprehensive School
University Neath Port Talbot College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Ospreys
Youth career
South Gower RFC
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2020– Ospreys 15 (0)
2022–23 →Cornish Pirates (loan) 13 (5)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2020–2021 Wales U20 9 (0)

James Christopher Fender is a Welsh professional rugby union player, who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club the Ospreys.

Contents

Professional career

As a youth player, Fender was part of the Ospreys academy. He played for South Gower and Neath Port Talbot College, [1] as well as Swansea RFC. [2]

For the 2022–2023 season, Fender was loaned to RFU Championship side Cornish Pirates. [3]

Fender represented Wales U20 in the U20 Six Nations tournament in 2020 and 2021. [4]

Fender was recalled to the Ospreys squad ahead of their URC tour to South Africa, and made his debut as a replacement on 26 November 2022, against the Bulls. [5]

Fender was named as Man of the Match on 26 December 2023, as the Ospreys beat the Scarlets 25–11. [6] Following his early season performances, Fender was named as a top breakthrough player for 2023. [7] He was tipped for a place in the Wales squad ahead of the 2024 Six Nations, but suffered a shoulder injury in January 2024, ruling him out long term. [8]

On 19 April 2024, Fender signed a contract extension with the Ospreys. [9]

Fender returned from injury in November 2024 to play for the Ospreys in a development fixture. [10] He received a red card against Cardiff for a dangerous clear out on 1 January 2024. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ospreys (rugby union)</span> Welsh rugby union team

The Ospreys, formerly the Neath–Swansea Ospreys is one of the four professional rugby union teams from Wales. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team formed as a result of Neath RFC and Swansea RFC combining to create a new merged entity, as part of the new regional structure of Welsh rugby, that began in 2003. They are also affiliated with a number of local semi-professional and amateur clubs, including Welsh Premier Division sides Aberavon RFC, Bridgend Ravens, and original founding clubs Neath and Swansea. The regional area represented by the team has widely become known for rugby purposes as 'Ospreylia'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlets</span> Rugby team based in Llanelli, Wales

The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams and are based in Llanelli, Wales. Their home ground is the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the United Rugby Championship and in European Professional Club Rugby competitions. The club was originally named the Llanelli Scarlets but was renamed at the start of the 2008–09 rugby season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Williams (rugby union)</span> Welsh rugby player

Scott Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who currently plays for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship.

Alex Jeffries is a Welsh former professional rugby union player who played as a prop. He retired from rugby due to a neck injury in April 2023.

Darran Harris is a Welsh rugby union player. He plays for RFU Championship side, Rotherham Titans as a hooker.

Ryan Conbeer is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship as a winger. He had previously played for the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC

Dane Blacker is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Dragons regional team as a scrum-half. He is a former Wales Under-20 international. Blacker has previously played for Cardiff Rugby and the Scarlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Ratti</span> Welsh rugby union player

James Ratti is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a back row forward for the Ospreys and Wales national team.

Kieran Richard Hardy is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Ospreys and the Wales national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rio Dyer</span> Welsh rugby union footballer

Rio Dyer is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Dragons and the Wales national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Davies (rugby union, born November 1998)</span> Welsh rugby union player

Rhys Davies is a Welsh international rugby union player, who plays as a lock for Ospreys.

Luke Scully is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship side Ospreys as a fly-half and centre.

Carwyn Tuipulotu is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker or number 8.

Iestyn Rees is a German-born Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Scarlets. His preferred position is flanker.

Joe Roberts is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harri Doel</span> Welsh rugby union footballer

Harri Doel is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Llandovery RFC. He previously played for Worcester Warriors, until the club liquidated in 2022.

Archie Hughes is a Welsh rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship side Scarlets as a scrum-half. Hughes made his Scarlets debut during the 2021–22 season, and has represented Wales U20 at multiple tournaments.

Luca Giannini is a Welsh rugby union player who previously played for the Scarlets as a flanker.

Eddie James is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Scarlets and Wales national team as a centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Edwards (rugby union)</span> Welsh rugby union player

Daniel Edwards is a Welsh rugby union fly-half who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship.

References

  1. ↑ Orders, Mark (13 June 2019). "The six Welsh rugby teens who've today been given their big chance to make it". WalesOnline. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Player – SWANSEA RFC". Swansea RFC. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  3. ↑ "James Fender: Cornish Pirates bring in Ospreys lock on loan". BBC Sports. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "Wales U20 squad announced for Six Nations - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Orders, Mark (25 November 2022). "Bulls v Ospreys team news as old Wales warhorse returns for visitors". WalesOnline. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Top Performers: Ospreys v Scarlets". www.ultimaterugby.com. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  7. ↑ James, Ben (19 December 2023). "The breakthrough Welsh rugby players of 2023 ranked". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Jones, John (16 January 2024). "The other big players missing from the Wales squad amid Rees-Zammit drama". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "James Fender: Ospreys lock signs new contract". BBC Sport. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  10. ↑ "Ospreys announce team for Dragons Development game | Ospreys". www.ospreysrugby.com. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Thomas, Steffan (1 January 2025). "Wales internationals in agreement as Ospreys lock sent off for dangerous act". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.