Joe Ford (rugby union)

Joe Ford (born 4 June 1990) is a rugby union coach. He has previously also been a player for Yorkshire Carnegie, in three other spells, as well as Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby. He has recently been appointed a coach at Doncaster Knights.

Joe Ford
Birth nameJoseph Ford
Date of birth (1990-06-04) 4 June 1990
Place of birthOldham, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
SchoolRishworth School
Notable relative(s)Mike Ford (father)
George Ford (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2010 Leeds Carnegie 13 (80)
2010–2011 Northampton Saints 5 (10)
2011–2013 Leeds Carnegie 45 (330)
2013–2016 Sale Sharks 48 (166)
2016–2017 Yorkshire Carnegie 22 (223)
2017–2019 Leicester Tigers 23 (116)
2019–2020 Yorkshire Carnegie 9 (22)
2009–2020 Total 156 (925)
Correct as of 2 August 2019

Career

Ford was a member of the Bradford Bulls Academy and played amateur rugby league for the St Albans Centurions.

Ford made his professional rugby debut for Leeds Carnegie on 8 November 2009 in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Leicester Tigers, Ford scored 13 points in 28-17 win. His brother George Ford made his debut for Leicester in the same game.[1][2]

Ford moved to Northampton Saints in 2010[3][4] but returned to Leeds at the end of the season having only featured in five games for the Saints.[5]

After two years in the Championship, including being the third highest points scorer in the 2012-13 season, Ford moved back to the Premiership with Sale Sharks.[6] After three years with the Sharks Ford returned for a third spell with Leeds, now called Yorkshire Carnegie.[7]

In 2017, it was rumoured that Leicester Tigers were interested in signing him as back-up to his brother George.[8] And on 1 June 2017 it was confirmed that Ford would join his brother at Leicester.[9] Ford made his first start on 4 November 2017 against Gloucester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and was named captain for the match.[10] On 15 May 2019 he was announced as one of the players to leave Leicester following the end of the 2018-19 Premiership Rugby season.[11]

On 2 August 2019 Ford was announced as re-joining Yorkshire Carnegie in the role of player-head coach.[12] A role he left on 23 January 2020.[13]

He later signed a two year deal to join RFU Championship side Doncaster Knights as a coach from the 2020–21 season.[14]

Family

His brother is England international George Ford. He is the son of former England defence coach Mike Ford.

References
  1. "Leeds' Ford targets starting spot". BBC. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. "Leicester Tigers cub given harsh lesson at Leeds". 9 November 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  3. "Back sad to see Ford leave Leeds". BBC News. 14 April 2010.
  4. "Saints sign Leeds fly-half Ford". BBC News. 13 April 2010.
  5. "Returning Ford has no regrets about Saints stint". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  6. "Sale sign Joe Ford from Leeds". 13 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. "Three new signings for Yorkshire Carnegie". 29 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  8. "George is not the only Ford joining Leicester Tigers". Bath Chronicle. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  9. "Tigers add duo to backline options" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. 1 June 2017.
  10. "No ordinary Joe as Ford revels in skipper's role for Leicester Tigers". Leicester Mercury. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  11. "Brendon O'Connor and Mike Fitzgerald among huge number leaving Leicester Tigers at the end of the season". Leicester Mercury. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  12. "Ford rejoins Yorkshire Carnegie in player/coach role". Yorkshire Carnegie. 2 August 2019.
  13. admin (23 January 2020). "Player-head coach Joe Ford leaves Yorkshire Carnegie". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  14. "Former Tiger Ford to join Coaching Staff". Doncaster Knights. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
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