Birth name | James Fender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 3 August 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Fender is a Welsh professional rugby union player, who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club the Ospreys.
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]