George Ford has rejected a lucrative offer from the rebel R360 league, believed to be worth £1 million a season, to pursue his ambition of winning a Rugby World Cup with England. The 32-year-old fly-half, who earned his 100th cap last summer, has signed a three-year contract extension with Sale Sharks that keeps him available for the 2027 tournament in Australia.
Ford confirmed that R360, fronted by former England centre Mike Tindall, approached his agent, but he prioritised his international career. “My decision-making was purely based on the fact that I love playing for England and I’ve got an unbelievable desire to keep playing for England,” he said. “There were a couple of opportunities overseas but that would then mean that you’re calling time on your international career.”
Reflecting on his three World Cup experiences – pool-stage exit in 2015, final defeat in 2019, and third-place finish in 2023 – Ford emphasised his hunger for silverware. “The real reason you do it is to win trophies. There’s no better motivation than winning for England.”
Despite his strong form, Ford faces fierce competition for the No 10 shirt, with Fin Smith and Marcus Smith selected ahead of him for the British & Irish Lions, and Owen Farrell’s potential return to England duty after rejoining Saracens. “I’d imagine Steve’s quite happy having four options like that,” Ford said of head coach Steve Borthwick.
Ford praised England’s growing depth, highlighting Bath flanker Guy Pepper and Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson as future stars. He also welcomed the coaching additions of Lee Blackett and Byron McGuigan, noting Blackett’s positive impact on attack. “If we can find a midpoint between the French unstructured style and the English structured DNA, we’ll be in a good spot,” he added.
Ford, who co-captained England on their summer tour to Argentina, is maximising his longevity through pilates. “What it has done to help my hip, my back, my kicking, everything has been great,” he said. He and Farrell face each other on Saturday when Saracens host Sale at the StoneX Stadium.
