Statement: Sale Sharks appoint Ford as attack coach

Monday, 16 June 2025 at 16:02

byRugby Rucker

Sale Sharks have confirmed the appointment of Doncaster Knights Head Coach Joe Ford as the club’s new Attack Coach ahead of the 2025/26 season.

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The 35-year-old — who enjoyed stints at Sale, Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints during his playing days — took charge of Championship outfit Doncaster at the start of this season. But he now makes the switch back to his boyhood club, where he’ll link up with Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson and younger brother George Ford, England’s current No.10.

“I had a conversation with Alex at the back end of the season and it just went from there,” said Ford.

“I was in a great position at Doncaster, with a fantastic squad and a great team around me and there weren’t many jobs that I would have left for. But sometimes a job comes up that just feels right.

“I’m from Manchester, Sale Sharks is my home club, I’ve played there and it’s an amazing opportunity to work with a brilliant set of players and coaches. Plus it could be the only chance I get to work with George. It feels like the right decision for so many reasons.”

Ford initially joined the coaching ranks at Castle Park as Backs Coach in 2020 after a spell with Yorkshire Carnegie. He took on the top job last summer and oversaw a rebuild with over 30 players out of contract — and led the side to an impressive finish in the second half of the campaign.

“When I took over at Doncaster we had about 30 players out of contract but that was a great opportunity for us to have a reset,” he explained.

“We brought in a lot of new players and it took a bit of time for everyone to gel. Since the turn of the year the results have been fantastic and we finished the season really well. It was a great way for me to finish what’s been a brilliant five years.

“I’ve loved working with Steve, Tony and Geech and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity they gave me and the mentorship I’ve had.

“The job of a Head Coach comes with an awful lot of extra work to deal with so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into being an attack coach again.

“Sharks have a squad filled with incredibly talented attacking players and it’s my job to work out how to get the ball into their hands.

“This is a massive opportunity for us to achieve something really special for the club and for northern rugby and I can’t wait to get started.”

Sharks boss Sanderson believes the club has landed a gem.

“Joe has been so successful in the Championship at a tender age and the players who played under him at Doncaster all say how good he is as an attack coach. At 35 there’s still a lot of growth in him,” Sanderson said.

“He’s coming on his own merit because he’s a fantastic coach in his own right, but he brings with him the intellectual property of not just himself, but his two brothers and his dad. He has good counsel around him.

“We’ve known Joe for years — there’s no reason why he can’t go on to be a very good Director of Rugby in the Premiership in time. As a coaching group we already have strong relationships with him and we can’t wait to see what he can do.”