Why George Ford Signed New Sale Sharks Deal Amid R360 And Overseas Interest

Ford’s enduring desire to play for England was at the heart of his decision, and he admitted that it was a large factor around staying in the Prem, as opposed to going overseas or potentially even joining the new R360 league.

“I want to have the opportunity to represent my country, I feel like I've still got a lot to give in a white shirt.”

That motivation proved decisive when considering interest from elsewhere, including rumoured offers from the new R360 league that would have ended his international career.

“My decision making around it was purely based on that I love playing for England, I'm unbelievably motivated and I've got a desire to play for England and Sale Sharks. I've loved my time here as well and it never really got any further than that in terms of negotiations with a proposed new league.”

Born in the North West, Ford’s connection to Sale Sharks goes beyond the pitch. Having joined as Shark #358 ahead of the 2022/23 season, he returned to the club based in the area he grew up in.

“It's being able to represent the club for where I grew up from, and that's not lost on me.”

That sense of belonging has shaped much of his career, and with his family deeply rooted in the area — his wife runs four businesses locally — the decision to stay was about more than just rugby.

“It's something that you do take your time with, of course you do. It wasn't done overnight. There was nothing else in the Premiership, there were a couple of opportunities abroad, but that would then mean calling time on your international career. When you come down to it, it would have been a big move because there's me on the rugby side, but there's also my wife and daughter, my wife's got four businesses, we're around our family. there's other things that come into consideration when you make your decision and that's when you mull it all over and get down to it.”

Now entering the next stage of his career, Ford insists he’s far from done. Physically and mentally, he feels at his best — and he’s not ready to put a timeline on when his playing days might end.

“I honestly don't know as to when I'll finish my playing career, because if you put a timeline on it you're almost waiting for the inevitable. I feel really good physically and mentally and I'm probably loving my rugby as much as I've ever done and I put a hell of a lot of time and effort in looking after myself, and I love playing the game. Even though maybe in the future I'd love to stay in the game through a coaching capacity, maybe, I've not given it too much thought as to when I want to do that because I'm still loving being a player.”

That passion was clear as he led Sale to a 57–5 win over Newcastle Red Bulls, helping the side maintain their strong start to the season. But even after such a dominant performance, Ford’s focus remained on improvement.

“In my experience of the teams I've been involved in, that's what the best teams do. Even after winning they pick it to pieces and they're not avoidant of some things that happened in the 80 minutes that could potentially harm us in the future. That's what the best teams do.”

Ford’s influence at the club extends beyond his skill set. Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson believes Ford’s leadership, drive, and clarity of vision make him key to the team’s ambitions.

“It's fundamental for the club going forwards that we have him. All of the passion, the common sense and how concise in how he communicates, where he's from, what he wants to do, where he wants to take the group and how well-driven he is, is bigger than how brilliant he is on the field. He's all-encompassing, he's a motivational force for me as a coach.”

Having recovered from an Achilles injury to guide Sale to a Premiership final in his first season back, Ford has since made 44 appearances, scoring 341 points and reaffirming his status as one of English rugby’s most composed and intelligent playmakers.

For a player who has worn the England shirt over 100 times, including leading them to a 2019 World Cup final and a series win in Argentina this summer, the motivation remains as strong as ever.