Ben Foden Selected for X Factor: Celebrity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK (October 1, 2019)- Rugby United New York athlete Ben Foden announced yesterday his selection to appear in X Factor: Celebrity, a competition-based show revolving around celebrities and their vocal talents. Simon Cowell, formerly the premiere judge on hit TV show American Idol, headlines the judging panel in the new revamped format.

The show is set to kick off this month on popular British station ITV, with an exact start date yet to be confirmed. Foden will join the likes of Kevin McHale (Glee), International Social Media influencer group V5, and Hayley Hasselhoff, daughter of actor David Hasselhoff, among many others, on the new iteration of a British classic.

The participants will compete for the chance to win a potentially life changing recording deal with Cowell’s record label, Syco. In addition to the record deal, there is an undisclosed amount of money the eventual winner will be rewarded with.

Rugby United New York has plans to host a watch party for the premiere of the show, with details to follow as more information regarding the premiere is shared to the general public.

“Whether it is competing in the World Cup, or on X Factor: Celebrity, it is great to see our athletes stay busy during the offseason,” joked RUNY General Manager James English. “Ben is passionate about his vocal talents, and we look forward to supporting him this fall and wherever this opportunity might take him.”

“I always enjoy being able to do new things and explore new opportunities,” Foden told us. “It’s a TV series that I’ve followed since I was a kid. I’ve always wanted to sit in front of Simon and the other judges and see if I have what it takes. I’m finally going to get an answer to that question.”

Rugby United New York will release plans for a watch party for the show in the coming weeks.

***

About Rugby United New York

Rugby United New York is a professional rugby team who joined Major League Rugby as an associate member in 2018, playing a brief, but successful exhibition season. Their first full MLR schedule took place in 2019. RUNY’s vision is to bring the excitement of professional rugby to the New York sports landscape. The use of rugby’s core values of inclusion, teamwork, respect, and discipline will help to educate, inspire and connect with the New York Community. Rugby United New York, the city’s first professional rugby franchise, strives to unite the entire rugby community and enrich it at every level throughout the region. The team was founded by James Kennedy of the Murphy Kennedy Group, who is an active supporter of grassroots rugby.

About Major League Rugby

MLR is a professional rugby league that launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR is the pinnacle of the American rugby, and provides a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes. For more information, visit usmlr.com.