Phil Ford (born 16 March 1961) is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Rumney RFC and Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Warrington, Wigan, Bradford Northern, Leeds and Salford, as a fullback, wing or centre.
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| Full name | Philip G. Ford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 March 1961 Cardiff, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
editClub career
editFord initially played rugby union in Wales at club level for Cardiff RFC and Rumney RFC. He changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league when he transferred to Warrington during 1981.[3]
Ford joined Wigan in 1985, but was sold to Bradford Northern a few months later as part of Wigan's signing of Ellery Hanley.[4]
Ford played on the wing in Bradford Northern's 12–12 draw with Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, and played on the wing in the 11–2 victory in the replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987.
In December 1988, Ford was signed by Leeds in a deal worth £95,000.[5] In August 1992, he was transferred to Salford in exchange for Mick Worrall.[6]
International career
editFord was selected to go on the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour. He was a member of the Great Britain team that won the third Ashes Test in Australia, and was nicknamed The Rubber Man by the Australian media due to his elusive running style.[7] It was their first victory over Australia since the second Test at Odsal Stadium, Bradford during 1978. He was selected for Wales (RL) to compete in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Following his rugby league career, he returned to live in Cardiff, and he changed codes from rugby league to rugby union when he transferred to Rumney RFC.
Personal life
editHis brother Steve Ford was a Wales national rugby union team footballer, who was suspended for a period for having played a rugby league trial with Leeds. His nephew is Wales rugby league international Lloyd White.
References
edit- ^ "Phil Ford - Playing Career - Summary". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Rothmans RL Yearbooks
- ^ "Statistics at wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk". wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Wigan land Hanley". The Guardian. London. 17 September 1985. p. 27. ProQuest 186638017.
- ^ "1988-1989". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Rugby League: Leeds agree to sign Goodway". The Independent. 28 August 1992. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ "Phil Ford: Rugby's 'Rubber Man'". BBC Sport. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
External links
edit- (archived by web.archive.org) Crooks in trouble