Phil Ford (rugby)

For other people with the same name, see Philip Ford.

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.

Phil Ford

Personal information
Full name	Philip G. Ford
Born	(1961-03-16) 16 March 1961 (age 63) Cardiff, Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1981 Cardiff 1995 Rumney 1996–97 Pontypool 24 Total 24 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Wing, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1981–85 Warrington 112 57 3 0 201 1985 Wigan 15 16 0 0 64 1985–88 Bradford Northern 107 59 3 9 251 1988–92 Leeds 94+2 50 1 1 203 1992–95 Salford 93 55 0 0 220 Total 423 237 7 10 939 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1985–89 Great Britain 13 9 0 0 36 1993–95 Wales 8 4 0 0 16 1987 Rugby League XIII 1 1 0 0 4 1988 GB tour games 8 7 0 0 28
Source: [1][2]

Career

Club career

Ford 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

Ford 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

His 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

1. "Phil Ford - Playing Career - Summary". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. Rothmans RL Yearbooks
3. "Statistics at wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk". wolvesplayers.thisiswarrington.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
4. "Wigan land Hanley". The Guardian. London. 17 September 1985. p. 27. ProQuest 186638017.
5. "1988-1989". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
6. "Rugby League: Leeds agree to sign Goodway". The Independent. 28 August 1992. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
7. "Phil Ford: Rugby's 'Rubber Man'". BBC Sport. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2023.

External links

• (archived by web.archive.org) Crooks in trouble