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Thursday

15:00

The career-defining choice facing George Ford

By Jonathan Beardmore

05 Dec 2019

George Ford has a big decision to make about his Leicester future

Over the next few weeks, George Ford will find himself across a table from the Leicester Tigers board as they try to thrash out a new deal.

Tigers – an institution of English rugby – are near the foot of the Gallagher Premiership and recovering from a bruising loss to local rivals Northampton last weekend.

The venerable English club have problems – big problems. A world-class backline finds itself hamstrung by an underpowered pack and successive, ad hoc coaching appointments have done untold damage to the fabric of the organisation.

If Tigers are going to do anything this season, then it’s going to be Ford that does it. Ford knows it, his agent knows it and Tigers know it.

Also, with the club for sale, Ford is not just a playing asset but a commercial asset. A winning team, led by one of England’s biggest stars, is essential to any sales prospectus. In short, Ford is likely to become one of the highest-paid players in the English game if not the highest.

(Continue reading below…)

Yet, this is not the whole story. Obviously Ford wants to make sure he can pay his mortgage but he also wants to win things and at 26 he needs to start winning now. An honest assessment of Leicester Tigers would lead to the conclusion that they are still a world away from appearing at the top table of Europe, let alone winning it or challenging for the Premiership title.

So what are Ford’s options? Tigers are certainly the favourites. They could use a marquee player slot for Ford and pay him literally whatever they wanted without it affecting the salary cap. As Ford is already a Premiership player, no other team can make him a marquee player. So the expectation is for Ford to become the Leicester’s highest-paid player with a deal that will smash the £500k deal signed by Manu Tuilagi earlier this year.

Another club trying to match that offer would in all likelihood need to get rid of several very good players to make the numbers work under salary cap rules. Furthermore, the clubs most likely to win are already pretty settled positionally and culturally at fly-half.

They're not fine. pic.twitter.com/gTu2H1nYnV

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 5, 2019

This last point is particularly important. For example, Exeter Chiefs have Gareth Steenson and Joe Simmons at fly-half. Both are excellent players but someway short of Ford. Those lads have the Devon club woven into the fabric of their being. Not only are they very good players but they know the club and what is expected of them.

The collective is always more important than the player. As excellent as Ford is, would he be worth asking four Chiefs to pack their bags and get out of dodge? Probably not.

There are also time constraints. Clubs are not yet able to officially approach Ford and by the time they are, a club would like to have completed all its re-signing and spent most of its cap. Any club likely to win next season would not be able to get Ford under the cap without ripping up large parts of their squad and any club that could afford him don’t have a squad capable of winning.

George Ford talks to England forwards coach Steve Borthwick in Kobe last September (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The only hope Ford has of winning next year is by taking a large pay cut to go to an established team, which is certainly not ideal. There are only a few realistic options for Ford in the Premiership and they are all predicated on the dominos falling in the correct order.

Gloucester could be an option if Danny Cipriani, although contracted through to 2022, decides to go to France for a big payday now that his England career is likely over. Combine that with Owen Williams being out of contract and you could find the money for Ford with minimum disruption.

Bath have been desperate to spend on a fly-half since Ford left but this seems unlikely. Bristol, too, could potentially make room for Ford. Following the signing of the brilliant Semi Radradra, Pat Lam indicated he had more cap room to play with. In addition, Ian Madigan, one of the Premiership’s highest-paid players, is currently out of favour and seems destined for the exit at Ashton Gate.

Ian Madigan has an interesting call to make as he comes to the end of his contract cycle https://t.co/HXmAxYJPke

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2019

It is doubtful those two clubs could match a good Tigers offer but if they are challenging for silverware, would they need to? France and Japan are also out of the question for Ford for the time being due to England’s eligibility rules, but there might be another option.

Ford could join Sonny Bill Williams and co in the Super League. It sounds stupid on the face of it but the money might be there. Leeds Rhinoes are certainly interested and Ford has stated his wish to play at St Helens. Remember, Ford was weaned on the gritty northern sport.

He is from rugby league heartland and played at both Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead near Oldham from the age of five. He could join any team that could afford him and almost certainly become a Super League marquee player (Super League also have a salary cap).

View this post on Instagram

We have been no where near good enough this season and we are all accountable to that. Truly thankful to the supporters who have stuck with us through this tough period. Hopefully we can give you guys a performance to be proud of at our last home game of the season.

A post shared by George Ford (@george_fordy) on May 4, 2019 at 11:42am PDT

Such a switch would make sense from a timing point of view. Who knows what state England are going to be in as the RFU dither over Eddie Jones’ next contract – they have already let half the coaching staff leave. Ford could go and compete for the famed Challenge Cup while England go through a rebuild. He could fight for Super League titles for two years and then be back in rugby union by October 2022.

Not only does he get a chance to fill his trophy cabinet but it gives English Premiership teams time to table Ford an offer using their marquee space. That will be possible as they would be signing a player from a different league, unlike if the switch were to happen now from Leicester. In effect, Ford would have created a huge market for his signature and the perfect conditions for teams to sign him.

As departing All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams prepares for life in Canada with ambitious rugby league side the Toronto Wolfpack, a new report has emerged that he could be joined by English midfielder Manu Tuilagi. pic.twitter.com/KwdfTTWwnq

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2019

He would be the biggest signing in rugby league’s Super League and then quickly the biggest signing in rugby union’s Premiership. The bidding war for the England No10, who could potentially have a Super League ring on his finger, would make Ford a very rich man indeed.

He could simply pick the best situation for him, making his England return that much easier in time for the 2023 World Cup in France. If Ford is really serious about wanting to play rugby league he should do it now as he would have no shortage of union offers when he decides to return.

WATCH: Recently-retired All Black Sonny Bill Williams is unveiled by Super League’s Toronto Wolfpack

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Comments on RugbyPass

JWH 26 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.

If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.

It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅

28 Go to comments

JW 36 minutes ago

'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

Yeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?

It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.

That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.

79 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Good point

7 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

That would work too.

28 Go to comments

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Riley Higgins incoming.

28 Go to comments

Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

You don't win anything if you don't back yourself. If a South African said that, people would just accept it as their psyche. I think you'd expect Ben to bring that to a team with his experience. England lacked the experience and the bench to close out the match. IMO anyway.

7 Go to comments

Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?

Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.

On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.

Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.

On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.

Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 2 hours ago

All Blacks talk late-game adjustments after clutch England win

Which 2 backs make the bench?

BB being injured has kind of made things complicated.

Rueban Love is the most like-for-like, covers 10 and 15….. but 10 in a test?

Plummer would be safer option for first five cover, also covers 12.

Then ALB covers 12-13.

I think the sensible choice would be Plummer and ALB, but I’d rather see Plummer and Rubes.

That might be a bit much for a test this size but if they lit it up it would be one hell of a story.

Leaves our midfield too light for cover though.

Front row could be interesting. Ofa in my opinion is too important to leave out at the moment and needs to be on the rimu.

Mighty Temaiti will be better off for last weekends experience, he offered more around the field than DeGroot has in his last few games.

9 Go to comments

CO 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.

In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.

Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.

Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.

That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.

The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.

To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.

It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.

The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.

At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.

It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.

However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments

BM 2 hours ago

All Blacks lose Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor for Ireland Test

Billy Proctor is on way to welcome his first child in NZ !

26 Go to comments

Alex 2 hours ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

It is getting really frustrating with some of the selection calls. Have been willing for some time now to give SB the benefit of the doubt, but they just felt like real schoolboy errors tbh. England did better than I thought they would given it's a first hit-out, but their back three and pack must be so frustrated with just not getting enough quality ball from the centres. Clearly Alex Mitchell is missed, and a creative centre is needed, which has been the issue for a loooooooong time now.

18 Go to comments

JN 2 hours ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

I may be wrong, but Blackadder is at home in NZ recovering from injury.