Aviva Premiership
Bath confirm Ford capture
ESPN Staff
April 30, 2013
Leicester's George Ford fends off Saracens' Charlie Hodgson, Leicester v Saracens, Aviva Premiership semi-final, Welford Road, Leicester, England, May 12, 2012
George Ford will be running out in Bath's colours next season © PA Photos
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Players/Officials: George Ford

Bath have confirmed that they have signed fly-half George Ford for the start of next season.

The move has been mooted for a number of months, but both parties remained tight-lipped when the subject of the switch from Leicester Tigers came up.

"I'm really excited by the move to Bath," Ford said. "It's a club building for the long-term, focusing on developing young players like myself and I can't wait to be part of that environment."

Ford came to prominence for England at the 2011 U20 Junior World Cup where he put in a number of dominant displays despite being the youngest player in the squad. At the end of the year he won the IRB Junior Player of the Year award, the youngster player to do so.

At 16 years and 237 days he became the youngest player to make a professional club debut and he has gone on to make 33 first team appearances for the Tigers and has scored 220 points. For England he played 14 times at U18 level and 11 at U20.

At Bath he will come under the direction of his father Mike Ford, who is part of director of rugby Gary Gold's coaching team at The Recreation Ground. He will fill the gap left once Stephen Donald departs for Japan in the summer and compete with Tom Heathcote for the starting fly-half role.

"George is an exceptionally talented young player, and we are very much looking forward to him joining us here in Bath," Gold said. "He has already shown a tremendous range of skills, and at just 19 we know he will only grow as a player and further develop those skills."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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