Stephen Paul Ford (born 15 August 1965 in Cardiff)[1] was a Welsh international rugby union winger. After being banned from rugby union for an act of professionalism, he was eventually allowed back into the sport and went on to represent the Wales national team. He played club rugby for Cardiff.
| Birth name | Stephen Paul Ford | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 15 August 1965 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 13 st 6 lb (85 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Llanrumney High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Phil Ford, brother Luke Ford son | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | carpet fitter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby career
editClub career
editSteve Ford played rugby as a schoolboy representing Llanrumney High School before joining Rumney RFC. In April 1985, Ford made his debut for Cardiff.
Later that year, he had a trial with rugby league club Leeds. He made two appearances for the club as an amateur, scoring a try in a 60–12 win against Keighley in the Yorkshire Cup.[2] He was offered a contract by Leeds, but Ford decided to return to Wales and resume playing for Cardiff.[3] However, the Welsh Rugby Union soon learned of Ford's appearances for Leeds, and banned him from playing rugby union due to the sport's stance on professionalism. During his ban, Ford played several rugby league matches with Salford during the 1985–86 season. At the time, Ford claimed that he had only received expenses for his appearances in rugby league, but admitted many years later that he was paid to play the sport.[4]
His ban was eventually lifted, and he began playing for Cardiff again in 1988.[4]
International career
editIn 1990 he won his first full international cap, facing Ireland as part of the 1990 Five Nations Championship. Ford was utilised on the wing, and scored a try on his debut. Despite this Wales lost the match 14-8.[5] Ford was next selected for Wales on their 1990 Summer tour of Namibia. Ford played in both tour Tests against Namibia, Wales winning both.
After representing Wales against the touring Barbarians in October 1990, Ford was selected for the 1991 Five Nations Championship. Ford played in three of the Championship matches; the loss to England at Cardiff followed by a second defeat, this time to Scotland in which Ford scored his second and final international try. Ford's final home nations game was a draw with Ireland. Ford's final international was during the 1991 Wales tour of Australia, in which Wales were crushed 63-6 by Australia in Brisbane.
Although he never played in any of the matches of the tournament, Ford was part of the Wales team that participated in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, hosted by England. Despite not representing the Wales team in the years following, he was chosen for the Wales squad for the 1995 Rugby World Cup[6] but again failed to be selected for any of the tournament games.
International matches played
editWales
References
edit- ^ Steve Ford player profile ESPN Scrum.com
- ^ "Yorkshire Cup 1985/86 - Leeds 60 def. Keighley 12". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "1985-1986". Leeds Rhinos. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Welsh club rugby great was banned for life at the age of 21". Wales Online. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Five Nations - Lansdowne Road, 24 March 1990: Ireland (10) 14 - 8 (0) Wales (FT)". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ Cleary, Mike; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. Aylesbury: Rothmans Publications Ltd. p. 44. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4.