Mike Ford (rugby)

For other persons named Michael Ford, see Michael Ford (disambiguation).
Mike A. Ford
Personal information
Born (1965-11-18) 18 November 1965
Oldham, England
Playing information
Position Scrum-half/Halfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1983–87 Wigan 85 24 0 3 99
1987–91 Oldham 115 30 1 8 130
1991–94 Castleford 116 51 0 2 206
1995 Sth. Qld. Crushers 15 3 0 0 12
1995–96 Warrington Wolves 18 4 1 1 19
1997–98 Castleford Tigers 47 6 0 6 30
1999 Bramley Buffaloes
2000–01 Oldham Roughyeds
Total 396 118 2 20 496
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1992 England 1 0 0 0 0
1993 Great Britain 2 2 0 0 8
Source: RLP

Mike A. Ford (born 18 November 1965) born in Oldham, is an English former rugby league player and rugby union coach. Two of his sons currently play rugby union: George plays for Bath Rugby; Joe for Yorkshire Carnegie. He attended Saddleworth School from 1976-1981

Playing career

Ford played rugby league as a Scrum-half/Halfback, playing for Wigan, Leigh, Oldham (twice), Sydney Roosters, Castleford (twice), South Queensland Crushers, Warrington, Wakefield Trinity (Heritage #1097), and Bramley. He won 10 caps for Great Britain.

Ford played Scrum-half/Halfback in Wigan's 14-8 victory over New Zealand in the 1985 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France match at Central Park, Wigan on Sunday 6 October 1985.[1]

Ford played Scrum-half/Halfback in Wigan's 34-8 victory over Warrington in the 1985 Lancashire Cup final during the 1985–86 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 13 October 1985,[2] played Scrum-half/Halfback, scored a try, and was man of the match in the 27-6 victory over Oldham in the 1986 Lancashire Cup final during the 1986–87 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986,[3] played Stand-off/Five-eighth in Oldham's 16-24 defeat by Warrington in the 1989 Lancashire Cup final during the 1989–90 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 14 October 1989, and played, and scored a try in Castleford's 28-6 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1991 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1991–92 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Sunday 20 October 1991.

Ford played Scrum-half/Halfback in Wigan's 18-4 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy final during the 1985–86 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986,[4] and played Scrum-half/Halfback in Castleford Tigers' 33-2 victory over Wigan in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy final during the 1993–94 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.[5]

Ford is a Castleford Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.[6]

Ford played just 15 games for South Queensland Crushers

Coaching career

In 1999, Ford joined Bramley as a player-coach,[7] and joined Oldham in a similar role a year later. He retired from playing in 2001 after guiding Oldham to the championship Grand Final. Whilst at Oldham, he started coaching rugby union at Dukinfield RUFC for 5 seasons winning a cup and two promotions. He left Oldham RLFC to take over as Defensive Co-ordinator of Ireland in January 2002 and stayed for 4 seasons winning a triple crown and guiding Ireland to 3rd in the world rankings. In September 2004 he started working as a defence and skills coach at Saracens F.C., before taking over as head coach in August 2005.

He served as a defence coach for the midweek team on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, remaining undefeated from 7 games (the test side lost the series lost 3-0) and left his position with Ireland in September 2005.

In May 2006 he became defence coach of the England national rugby union team, part of the coaching team that guided England to the 2007 RWC Final.[8] The England playing record with Ford as defence coach is;[9]

Deciding not to seek a renewal of his contract,[10] he joined the coaching staff at Bath Rugby.

Became Head coach at Bath in May 2013 and guided them to a Champions Cup spot and an Amlin challenge cup Final. In 2014/15 Bath finish 2nd in the Premiership and lost in the Aviva Premiership Final to Saracens. Mike was awarded DOR award in 2015 and George Player of year 2015.

He parted company from Bath in May 2016 after they had finished 9th in the league.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "1985 Tour Match: Wigan 14 New Zealand 8". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "1985–1986 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "1986–1987 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "1985-1986 John Player Special Trophy Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Wigan 2 - 33 Castleford". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Hall of Fame at castigers.com". castigers. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  7. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (4 November 1998). "Rugby League: Broncos install Stains as coach". The Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Telegraph, 26 Oct 2007". Telegraph. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Scrum.com, 11 Jun 2006 -to- 8 Oct 2011". Espn Scrum.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "BBC Sport, 21 Dec 2011". BBC. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Mike Ford: Bath part company with head coach". BBC Sports. Retrieved 16 May 2016.

External links

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