Ben Maidment
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{infobox rugby biography
| name = Lord Ben Maidment
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1988|05|28}}
| birth_place = Cuckfield, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}
| weight = 118kg
| school = Brighton College
| university = University of Cambridge
| ru_currentteam = Jersey
| position = Number 8
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2010–2011
| years2 = 2011
| years3 = 2011–2013
| years4 = 2013–
| clubs1 = London Wasps
| clubs2 = Moseley
| clubs3 = Cornish Pirates
| clubs4 = Jersey
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| ru_clubupdate =
| provinceyears1 =
| province1 =
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| superyears1 =
| super1 =
| superapps1 =
| superpoints1 =
| repyears1 =
| repteam1 = England Students
| repteam2 = Barbarians
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| ru_ntupdate =
| repsevensyears1 =
| repsevenscomp1 =
| coachyears1 =
| coachteams1 =
| refereeyears1 =
| refereecomps1 =
| refereeapps1 =
}}
Ben Maidment (born 28 May 1988){{cite web |url=http://www.jrfc.je/1st-team/player-profiles.aspx |title=Player profiles |publisher=Jersey RFC |accessdate=12 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115034313/http://www.jrfc.je/1st-team/player-profiles.aspx |archive-date=15 January 2013 |url-status=dead }} is an English rugby union player from Cuckfield, West Sussex. He currently plays for Jersey as a Number 8.{{cite web|last=Harlow |first=Phil |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24373346 |title=RFU charges Jersey RFC and Maidment over suspension |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 October 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2014}}
Personal life
Maidment was educated at Brighton College{{cite web|url=http://www.brightoncollege.org.uk/college/sport/rugby-xvs/ |title=Rugby XVs – Sport |publisher=Brighton College |accessdate=12 March 2014}} and the University of Cambridge, where he studied Economics and Land Economy.{{cite web|last=Dick |first=Brian |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/rugby/england-student-ben-maidment-looks-223321 |title=England Student Ben Maidment looks to build professional career with Moseley |work=Birmingham Mail |date=27 February 2011 |accessdate=12 March 2014}} His brother Max also plays rugby professionally.{{cite web |last=Briton |first=West |url=http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Cornish-Pirates-sign-young-prop-forward/story-19181395-detail/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140312083550/http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Cornish-Pirates-sign-young-prop-forward/story-19181395-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2014 |title=Cornish Pirates sign on young prop forward |publisher=West Briton |date=4 June 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2014 }}
Club career
Maidment started playing rugby at Haywards Heath RFC while living in Sussex. He played in their colts team{{Cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/haywardsheath/news/bens-second-blue-226364.html|title = Ben's Second Blue}} as well as making the senior 1st XV.{{Cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/MatchDetails/London-One-2006/07/Haywards-Heath-VS-Worthing-Raiders?comp_id=228&match_id=15259&date=31-Mar-2007&offs=0|title = Haywards Heath VS Worthing Raiders Match overview London One 2006/07}} He played for Haywards Heath in National League 3 London & SE. When he was 16, he was selected to play for Sussex.{{cite web|last=Pilnick |first=Brent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22244724 |title=Jersey sign trio Aaron Penberthy, Ben Maidment and Grant Pointer |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2014}} While playing underage rugby at Haywards Heath he also played for Brighton College. While at university, Maidment was signed by London Wasps as part of a link-up with the University of Cambridge in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/12895.php |title=Wasps confirm squad for the JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series opener |publisher=Aviva Premiership |date=15 July 2010 |accessdate=12 March 2014}} He played for London Wasps in their rugby sevens team and their "A" team. In 2011, after a recommendation from London Wasps, Maidment moved to Moseley Rugby Football Club and made his debut for them in the RFU Championship against Esher RFC. In 2011, a day after his graduation from Cambridge, Maidment moved to Cornish Pirates.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/Rugby/Cambridge-Blue-Ben-Maidment-to-join-Pirates-24052011.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140312085643/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/Rugby/Cambridge-Blue-Ben-Maidment-to-join-Pirates-24052011.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-03-12 |title=Cambridge Blue Ben Maidment to join Pirates |publisher=Cambridge News |accessdate=12 March 2014 }}
In 2013, Maidment moved to Jersey along with fellow Cornish Pirates players Aaron Penberthy and Grant Pointer. During pre-season, he was sent off against Coventry R.F.C. and was banned by the Rugby Football Union for a week. The ban was initially meant to be served during a friendly against French club, Le Rheu; however, this match did not go ahead. Jersey failed to inform the RFU and its officials that the ban was not served, and then fielded Maidment in their next match, against Plymouth Albion in the RFU Championship. As a result, Maidment and Jersey were charged by the RFU for "failure to act towards the RFU with utmost good faith and/or conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or the Game". The charge against Maidment was later dropped, but Jersey were fined £5,000 and deducted two RFU Championship points.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/englandclub/rugby/story/202213.html |title=Championship outfit hit with points deduction |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=12 March 2014}}
=Representative career=
While at university, Maidment represented Cambridge in The Varsity Match at Twickenham Stadium against Oxford University.{{Cite web|url=https://thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2009/12/10/blues-boys-bring-it-home-438|title = Blues Boys Bring It Home|date = 10 December 2009}} Maidment was also selected to play for England Students. In 2011, Maidment was invited to play for the Barbarians against Bedford Blues, a match which the Barbarians won.{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/news/2011/april/news-articles/190411_barbarians_mobbs |title=Barbarians bow out with Mobbs Memorial Match win |publisher=Rugby Football Union |date=19 April 2011 |accessdate=12 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102527/http://www.rfu.com/news/2011/april/news-articles/190411_barbarians_mobbs |archivedate=7 April 2014 }}