George Ford is rejoining Leicester in the summer after the England fly-half activated a release contract in his Bath contract following the sacking of his father, Mike, as director of rugby in May last year.
Ford had hoped to join Leicester this season having been upset by the dismissal of his father but the Bath owner, Bruce Craig, blocked the move. Even after the fly-half activated the release clause in his contract, which runs until the summer of 2018, Bath were initially not willing to talk to the Tigers, whose England outside‑half Freddie Burns will replace Ford at the Recreation Ground having taken over from him at Welford Road in 2014.
Bath wanted the 23-year old Ford, who has spent three years at the club after leaving Leicester in frustration at playing a support role to the then England outside-half Toby Flood, to remain, but no amount of coaxing could prompt him to change his mind. Although Sale, Northampton and Gloucester expressed an interest in signing him, Ford was set on rejoining Leicester, where he made 41 appearances, and linking with his international half-back colleague Ben Youngs. Leicester will have to pay a six-figure transfer fee for Ford, who will be on an annual salary of £450,000, although the amount is reduced by the five-cap Burns being part of a swap deal.
“We are sorry to lose George and wish him well, but we have been in discussions about his future for some time and are glad we have now been able to conclude the matter positively,” the Bath managing director, Tarquin McDonald, said. “The agreement with Leicester suits all sides, with Bath not just securing appropriate compensation but most importantly an excellent new player. We have ambitious plans and Freddie is a key part of them.”
Burns was a Bath academy product of before joining Gloucester and he will fit into the club’s attacking style of play. Ford is joining a club looking to rekindle past glories after a season during which Richard Cockerill was dismissed as the Leicester director of rugby after a series of heavy away defeats. Bath are fourth in the Premiership after a mid-season wobble with the Tigers five points behind them in fifth.
“It has not been an easy decision for me, but I feel it is time to move on,” said the 32-cap Ford, who came through the Leicester academy. “I have really enjoyed my time at Bath where I have worked with some incredible players and coaches.”
The transfer is welcome news for the Leicester head coach Aaron Mauger who said: “We know George well from his time here. He has become one of the leading players in his position in Europe and he is a young man with a lot of rugby ahead of him. We are delighted he is coming but disappointed to lose Freddie who has been an outstanding player for us.”
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