Mike Ford (rugby)

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.

Ford played scrum-half/halfback in Wigan's 34-8 victory over Warrington in the 1985 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 13 October 1985, played scrum-half/halfback, scored a try, and was man of the match in the 27-6 victory over Oldham in the 1986 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1986–87 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 19 October 1986, played stand-off/five-eighth in Oldham's 16-24 defeat by Warrington in the 1989 Lancashire County 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 County 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, 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 Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994.

Mike Ford played scrum-half/halfback in Castleford's 12-28 defeat by Wigan in the 1992 Challenge Cup Final during the 1991–92 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1992, in front of a crowd of 77,386.

Ford is a Castleford Tigers Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Ford played just 15 games for South Queensland Crushers

Coaching career

In 1999, Ford joined Bramley as a player-coach, 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.

International

Ford 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.

Ford 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 Ford became defence coach of the England national rugby union team, part of the coaching team that guided England to the 2007 RWC Final. The England playing record with Ford as defence coach is;

Club

Deciding not to seek a renewal of his contract, Ford joined the coaching staff at Bath Rugby. He 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 the Aviva Premiership Director of Rugby of the Year 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.

Ford joined Toulon as head coach in October 2016 but left at the end of the 2016/17 season to join "another project".