Your Hunk of the Day: Ben Cohen

Ben Cohen for Standup Foundation

Benjamin Christopher "Ben" Cohen, MBE (born 14 September 1978) is an English activist and former England rugby union international player. He began his professional career with Northampton Saints in 1996; in 2007 he moved to France to represent Brive before returning to England two years later to join Sale Sharks. In May 2011, Cohen retired from professional rugby, and will focus on The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation he created to combat homophobia and bullying.

In 2011, Cohen founded The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, Inc., which is, according to its website, "the world’s first foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying, and funding those doing real-world work to stop it".

Off the field he is considered a gay icon, and often speaks favorably of his gay following. He ousted David Beckham as Gay Times' sports personality of the year in 2008, and came second as their sexiest man of the year. Among other Ben Cohen merchandise, he has released calendars since 2009 in which he is often shirtless. He has often made appearances at the gay retail store Prowler in Soho to sign calendars and other merchandise for fans. Ben appeared on the covers of Attitude (magazine) in October 2009, the cover of Compete Magazine July 2011 issue and the cover of Out (magazine) in August 2011.

In 2010, Cohen donated a signed jockstrap to support GMFA, a British charity addressing gay men's health issues, which was sold at auction at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. He also featured on the front cover and in an interview section of GMFA's printed FS Magazine in November 2010.

Cohen founded The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to combat homophobia and bullying. Following his retirement he announced plans to focus on the Foundation.

During March 2011 High and Mighty, the big and tall menswear specialist, appointed Cohen as the new face of the brand for 2011.