How George Ford’s Wife Escaped War and Built a New Life of Success
Rugby NewsMonday, 16 June 2025 at 08:05
As England prepares for their summer tour of the USA and Argentina, George Ford will aim to lead his team to glory, with wife Atdhetare Hoxha and their daughter Alarnia cheering from the stands.
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While Ford’s on-field brilliance is undeniable, his biggest win might just be the family he’s built off it.
Child Refugee Turned Restaurateur
Atdhetare’s journey to success is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Kosovo, she and her family fled their war-torn home in 1999 after their house was bombed. They arrived in Oldham with no possessions and zero knowledge of English.
"My dad started as a kitchen porter to improve his English," Atdhetare shared. "We had family businesses back home, but they were taken from us in a heartbeat. Coming here with nothing taught us resilience."
Finding Her Passion
After dabbling in hairdressing, Atdhetare discovered her true calling: food. In 2020, she opened Sorella, an Italian restaurant in Saddleworth that quickly became a local favourite. Now, her family runs four successful restaurants across Greater Manchester.
“She’s the boss,” George Ford told
The Times. “If a chef’s off sick, she jumps in without missing a beat. Me and my brother? We’re only good for making coffees or loading the dishwasher!”
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A Love Story with a Rugby Twist
George and Atdhetare tied the knot on 15 August 2022, and their love story got even sweeter with the birth of their daughter, Alarnia, on 23 March 2024. Reflecting on fatherhood, Ford said: “Playing for England was huge, but nothing compares to being at my daughter’s birth.”
On Father's Day yesterday, Atdhetare wrote: "Words can’t describe how much we love you, your the the best husband/ daddy we could ever have asked for we miss you every day you leave us we always count down the days when we reunite again happy Father’s Day Daddy. I love you so much."
With an inspiring partner by his side, Ford’s off-field life is just as impressive as his on-field heroics.
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2/10: 5 Big-Name Underperformers from the Premiership Final
Bath finally broke their 29-year title drought with a nervy 23-21 win over Leicester Tigers, wrapping up a historic 2024/25 treble. But while the blue, black, and white were partying, some big names had a day to forget...
Honourable Mention: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
? Farewell in a fog
A brief cameo turned sour as the veteran prop bowed out of professional rugby with a controversial yellow card for a late hit on Finn Russell. Rugby Pass called it "a tragic way to finish his career."
Rating: 2/10
A brief cameo turned sour as the veteran prop bowed out of professional rugby with a controversial yellow card for a late hit on Finn Russell. Rugby Pass called it "a tragic way to finish his career."
Rating: 2/10
#1. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
? Big Joe's big slip-up
He found himself in good positions but couldn’t make them count. Handling errors crept in, undermining his usual wrecking-ball threat.
"Unusually mistake-filled… unable to hold the ball," noted RUCK.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby), 6/10 (RUCK)
He found himself in good positions but couldn’t make them count. Handling errors crept in, undermining his usual wrecking-ball threat.
"Unusually mistake-filled… unable to hold the ball," noted RUCK.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby), 6/10 (RUCK)
#2. Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers)
? Nowhere to run
Radwan had flashes of pace, but spent much of the match marooned in heavy traffic. His defensive work didn’t help either.
"Bath dominated in the air and Radwan also missed quite a few tackles," Planet Rugby observed.
Rating: 5/10
Radwan had flashes of pace, but spent much of the match marooned in heavy traffic. His defensive work didn’t help either.
"Bath dominated in the air and Radwan also missed quite a few tackles," Planet Rugby observed.
Rating: 5/10
#3. Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
? The pass that broke the Tigers
Started brightly, directing play with authority, but his second-half unravelled. A stray pass to Russell led to a decisive Bath try, and he missed a crucial kick at goal.
"Blew white hot and ice cold," summed up Planet Rugby.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby & Rugby Pass)
Started brightly, directing play with authority, but his second-half unravelled. A stray pass to Russell led to a decisive Bath try, and he missed a crucial kick at goal.
"Blew white hot and ice cold," summed up Planet Rugby.
Rating: 5/10 (Planet Rugby & Rugby Pass)
#4. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
? Grounded under pressure
The safest hands in England were tested—and cracked. Bath’s tactical kicking drew him out of position, and a few spilled catches followed.
"Not his imperious best under the high ball," said Rugby Pass.
Rating: 4/10
The safest hands in England were tested—and cracked. Bath’s tactical kicking drew him out of position, and a few spilled catches followed.
"Not his imperious best under the high ball," said Rugby Pass.
Rating: 4/10
#5. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers)
? Breakdown? Break-gone.
Normally a menace at the ruck, Reffell struggled to assert himself and racked up penalties instead. Bath kept him largely out of the contest.
"Found himself on the wrong side of Dickson’s whistle… not Leicester’s afternoon at the breakdown."
Normally a menace at the ruck, Reffell struggled to assert himself and racked up penalties instead. Bath kept him largely out of the contest.
"Found himself on the wrong side of Dickson’s whistle… not Leicester’s afternoon at the breakdown."
Quiz! Can you name every club that has played in the Premiership?
London Welsh were the last new team to play in the Gallagher Premiership back in 2011 – can you name the others?
You have five minutes to name every club to have played in the Gallagher Premiership, all 28 of them, since the division was established back in 1987.
Good luck, and let us know how you do
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