The fact that Ben Foden brings his puppy, "Jackson," to training every day is enough to guarantee endless stick from his fellow teammates at Northampton, not least from the management of Jim Mallinder and Dorian West. "They keep telling me I'm on the slippery slope to marriage and children, and that Jackson is just the start," the 24-year-old explains, as he cuddles his Jack Russell and Pug cross known, according to the man who hopes to be England's full back come the autumn internationals, as a "Jug."
If this is the case then Foden, who has bought a house near St Albans with celebrity girlfriend Una Healy, from chart-topping band "The Saturdays," is happy to be sliding. The dog was a mutual dream to go with the new house, and with Foden wanting to name it "Jack" and Una "Sonny," the compromise became "Jackson." "It's also a tribute to Michael Jackson," our scrum-half turned number fifteen adds.
It's not the biggest compromise the couple, who have been seeing each other for almost a year, will make, however. This will happen next Saturday night when Foden's Saints take on the might of Munster at a packed Franklin's Gardens in their first pool game of the Heineken Cup. The Healy family, Una included, are Munster through and through and, ironically, the pair could have set eyes upon each other for the first time three years' ago, as opposed to the back end of last year, but for an injury to Foden.
"I was at Sale when they went to Thomond Park and got smashed in the Heineken Cup," he recalls. "I was injured and watched it at home on TV but, afterwards, the lads were entertained in the bar by a young, Irish woman who played guitar and sang. That was Una.
"Next Saturday pretty much the whole Healy family are coming over to Northampton to watch the game. Una, her parents, and others are all supporting the Saints because, if selected, I'll be playing in a massive game of rugby." He laughs as he just remembers something. "There is one, however, who's refusing to budge. Una's sister is sticking with Munster, and she'll be in the stands surrounded by Northampton fans proudly wearing the red and black of Munster."
Two years ago Northampton were playing in what is now called The Championship, so it is a fairy tale that, two years' on, and a European Challenge Cup trophy to their name, they are playing one of the true giants of European rugby at home in the Northern Hemisphere's premier tournament. It may seem unlikely, but no more so than the story of how Ben and Una hooked up. "My agent was asking me who I fancied, as men tend to do, and I told him I liked that Una Healy from The Saturdays," Foden admits.
"He then said he might be able to help me out. It turned out his friend Louise, who works with him, knows someone in the music business who knew Una. My numbers were sent to her and then, once she'd checked me out, she texted me her number. My agent is really tall and she saw a photo of me standing next to him, so at first she thought I was a midget. Anyway, we got together and here we are now."
Indeed they are, which is somewhat ironic seeing that Foden was eliminated from the second round of TV's "Pop Idol" a few years' back, and still loves to sing whenever he can, using a voice which is considered, alongside the likes of Matt Stevens and Riki Flutey, to be one of the best in rugby.
All of which will count for less than nothing to the likes of Mallinder and West, let alone England manager Martin Johnson, who is expected to be sitting in the stands watching the likes of Foden and Shane Geraghty take on the best European rugby can throw at them.
Foden understands this, which is why he vows not to make the kind of mistakes that have put the brakes on the likes of Danny Cipriani and Gavin Henson. "I know very well that I am a rugby player, that's what I do best and anything and everything I get out of life will stem from playing rugby," he insists. "So there's no need to worry in that department. I'm committed to be playing at full back now and, having been dropped by England for the last test match away in Argentina, I'm desperate to get back into that England shirt, but to do that means performing at my best in big games for my club."
Lying in his way is the small matter of a wounded Munster, still angry after seeing their defence of the Heineken Cup ended by Leinster in the semi-final at Croke Park last April. Former winners Northampton also need to deal with French champions Perpignan later, who once again lead the French Top 14. "It suits us to be slightly under the radar," Foden insists. "Everyone's picking Munster and Perpignan to qualify but Franklin's is a tough place to come and play and, hopefully, Munster will discover this next week."
There remains one, seemingly impossible feat to pull off for Foden. The Healeys may be behind Northampton, but when it comes to England you can forget it.
"Una took me aside and announced that, after a family conference, they had decided that if I ever get to play against Ireland they will hope that I score three tries and become man of the match, but they'll still want Ireland to win."
Now that is not up for negotiation.
“Word Shaker,” the new album from “The Saturdays” is out on October 12th. Their single, “Forever is Over,” is out on October 5th.
