Kicking on: George Ford
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George Ford appears set to leave Leicester at the end of the season, with the former IRB Junior Player of the Year expected to join Bath.
Ford signed a one-year contract extension at the end of last season to bring speculation about his future to a close, but having been unable to negotiate a new deal with Leicester will now move on according to the Leicester Mercury.
Ford made his debut aged just 16 for the Tigers in the LV= Cup but has been searching for more time on the pitch for Leicester over the last two seasons - his biggest match to date coming in the Aviva Premiership semi-final last season.
The 19-year-old is tipped to link up with his father, former England defence coach Mike Ford, at Bath - although Northampton Saints have previously been rumoured as a possible destination.
If Ford does join Bath as expected, the move could force either young Scotland fly-half Tom Heathcote or former All Black Stephen Donald to leave the club.
Leicester are expected to use former Crusaders back Dan Bowden in more of a fly-half role but may also recruit another option before the beginning of next season.
Comments
bignoel says...
Hang on, didn't Mike Ford say that there was absolutely no truth to this story a few weeks ago?? Someone has been economical with the truth - it can't be one of the coaches!! Surely not.
Why didn't Mike Ford just tell the truth or say no comment. If rules have been broken, Bath should be punished. If the rules cannot be enforced, they should be scrapped.
Posted 10:26 22nd January 2013
ste490 says...
We have a rumour that Myler is off to Tigers so there could be a deal to bring Ford to Franklins. I would rather see the back of Lamb than Myler, but Ford would be a definite bonus for us.
Posted 10:22 22nd January 2013
lawynd says...
Discussions in the pub after the Toulouse game showed one thing - a lot of fans aren't sure where Cockerill is trying to take this club any more. It's all well and good having a fantastic forwards platform but if it means cutting corners at halfback and in the back row as has happened recently, then we're going to get left behind in the long run. Ford has the potential to far exceed Flood in all facets of play and I personally would rather stick with him and send Flood packing (probably to Toulon!). I'll be gutted if this happens, Ford and Twelvetrees could (and should) have been Leicester's future.
Posted 10:10 22nd January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
hearing more than I'm seeing about this lad, and the Bath destination doesn't look like a done deal yet.
Assuming its on - who goes, Donald? - the only thing he's set alight is a big hole in the salary budget but still has pedigree or Heathcote? - would be nice for he and Ford to rotate but will leave two relatively inexperienced players in a key area.
Given the denials that have come from Gold over the Ford link - does it mean that some of the others apparently on the shopping list are still on too (Faletau)
Posted 10:05 22nd January 2013
Bones7 says...
I agree with rugby_rockstar, Leicester know what their team needs to win games, and it isn't Ford unfortunately. He's primarily a running 10 when all they need really is someone who's going to spend 80 minutes trying to kick the casing off the ball. Allen can distribute if the game needs to be opened up and Tuilagi is used to create the gaps for the outside backs, not really any cunning or guile from 10. I'd assume Donald is going, in which case, fair play Bath for ending up with two bright young 10s and offloading a millstone round their neck in the process! If Stringer's there as well they will love his service and that will only help develop them.
Posted 10:02 22nd January 2013
Frooschman says...
@ rugby_rockstar re Hooper: I couldn't agree more. To add insult to injury he's club captain too.
Posted 09:58 22nd January 2013
Tvaddict says...
I've heard that this its a done deal along with a trio from London Irish in Matt Garvey (Great player), JJ (already know he's good and Wilson (very exciting prospect, surprised he is leaving). That makes 5 first team players leaving Irish at the end of this season as it stands. If we don't get regulated this season then I don't see how we can stay up next year if we keep turning over players like we are. Never known such a mass exodus of quality players from a club over a three year period.
Posted 09:57 22nd January 2013
Frooschman says...
Sooooo ... we signed Beaver in late 2011 on a two-and-a-half year contract and we signed Heathcote on a three year deal early last year. So realistically we could kiss Donald goodbye at the end of the season without too much cost if that suits both parties? Does this really mean that we're intending to make Heathcote and Ford slug it out for the starting ten shirt? And why?! Heathcote performed well (for a youngester) in his few starts to date and looked like he could really grow into the shirt. Similarly, Ford at Leics - he's had fewer opportunities than he would like and needs time in the shirt but he's shown real potential. What is the point of having two youngsters at similar stages of development? The only conclusion I can reach is that if this is true, its Heathcote who's leaving - possibly to Scotland to further his international career?
I hope that (for once) Bath know what they're doing!
Posted 09:53 22nd January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Leicester spent their money on their Forwards. It worked against Toulouse and the Ospreys. Leicester have a Euro-cup QF because they spend big on the front five. It does mean they struggle to spend as much on the Backs as the likes of Bath who always go the flash route. Thing is, Bath don't win squat, so Ford is basically off to Somersett to blag some free sunday lunches off his Mum and Dad!. :) If bath were worth their salt they'd be dumping Stuart "never was" Hooper and looking for a decent platform too.
Also, you don't see Quins giving Rory Clegg equal number of games as Nick Evans, so its not just about selection time. Clegg must be on a fairly decent wage to stay. Leicester can't do that with Ford without breaking the salary cap.
Posted 09:36 22nd January 2013
Maxgzy says...
Poor Tom Heathcoat, only reason he chose Scotland over England was so that he wouldn't have to compete with Ford.
Posted 09:23 22nd January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Tigers have to havea big think on their selection policy. They have got into a very bad situation when a leaving player (Twelvetrees) gets faster selected into the EPS. They will lose their strength in depth unless they rotate more.
Posted 09:13 22nd January 2013