Rugby player
| Birth name | James Christopher Fender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (2001-08-03) 3 August 2001 (age 23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 200 cm (6 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 kg (19 st 1 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Bishopston Comprehensive School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Neath Port Talbot College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Christopher Fender is a Welsh professional rugby union player, who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club the Ospreys.
Professional career
As a youth player, Fender was part of the Ospreys academy. He played for South Gower and Neath Port Talbot College, as well as Swansea RFC.
For the 2022–2023 season, Fender was loaned to RFU Championship side Cornish Pirates.
Fender represented Wales U20 in the U20 Six Nations tournament in 2020 and 2021.
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.
Fender was named as Man of the Match on 26 December 2023, as the Ospreys beat the Scarlets 25–11. Following his early season performances, Fender was named as a top breakthrough player for 2023. 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.
On 19 April 2024, Fender signed a contract extension with the Ospreys.
Fender returned from injury in November 2024 to play for the Ospreys in a development fixture. He received a red card against Cardiff for a dangerous clear out on 1 January 2024.
References
- 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.
- "Player – SWANSEA RFC". Swansea RFC. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- "James Fender: Cornish Pirates bring in Ospreys lock on loan". BBC Sports. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- "Wales U20 squad announced for Six Nations - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- Orders, Mark (25 November 2022). "Bulls v Ospreys team news as old Wales warhorse returns for visitors". WalesOnline. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- "Top Performers: Ospreys v Scarlets". www.ultimaterugby.com. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- James, Ben (19 December 2023). "The breakthrough Welsh rugby players of 2023 ranked". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- Jones, John (16 January 2024). "The other big players missing from the Wales squad amid Rees-Zammit drama". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- "James Fender: Ospreys lock signs new contract". BBC Sport. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- "Ospreys announce team for Dragons Development game | Ospreys". www.ospreysrugby.com. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- Thomas, Steffan (1 January 2025). "Wales internationals in agreement as Ospreys lock sent off for dangerous act". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 January 2025.