Sale Ease Concerns Over George Ford’s Fitness for England’s Six Nations Campaign
Sale director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, has played down fears that George Ford will miss the start of the Six Nations, despite the fly-half’s absence from the club’s trip to Cape Town for treatment on a knee injury. Ford, 30, sustained minor ligament damage in a Premiership clash with Northampton at the end of last month and was unable to participate in the subsequent defeat against Bristol. However, Sanderson remains optimistic about Ford’s recovery, stating that the player is focused on doing what is necessary for his knee and ultimately for England.
He didn’t travel because he needs injections in his leg, in his MCL (medial cruciate ligament), to stiffen it up. I would have loved him to be here, but he just wants to do what is best for his knee, for us and for England – if selected – so he had two injections this week, Sanderson said.
Sanderson expressed confidence in Ford’s return, suggesting that England fans should be excited about the prospect of his comeback. They’ll be excited. They’ll be very excited. He’ll be fresh, Sanderson commented. It is understood that Ford may be cleared to play for Sale against Gloucester on January 28 in order to demonstrate his fitness ahead of England’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3.
With Ford considered to be the frontrunner for the fly-half position, the competition between him and Marcus Smith for the coveted shirt has intensified. The winner will fill the void left by Owen Farrell’s decision to step back from England duties for the well-being of himself and his family.
Despite the positive update on Ford, there are concerns regarding other members of the Sale squad ahead of the Six Nations. Manu Tuilagi is currently battling yet another groin injury and is expected to be sidelined for the beginning of the championship. However, Sale remains hopeful that Tom Roebuck, their in-form winger who is also eligible for Scotland, will be called up to the England squad.
In a separate development, the ongoing dispute between the RFU and Championship clubs over plans to introduce a franchise system in the second tier continued. The Championship clubs issued a statement expressing their principled objections to the proposed changes, highlighting concerns surrounding governance, commercial strategy, promotion/relegation, player welfare, and the player development pathway. The clubs are urging the RFU to address these issues before proceeding with any recommendations or plans for Tier 2.
In response, the RFU emphasized that they had been consulting with Championship clubs for over a year, outlining their commercial strategy and providing confirmed funding at existing or higher levels in the coming seasons. While the RFU hopes that the Championship clubs choose to be a part of the proposed changes, the clubs argue that more clarity is needed before decisions are made.
As England’s Six Nations campaign draws near, the focus remains on George Ford’s recovery and the outcome of the ongoing dispute between the RFU and Championship clubs. Rugby fans eagerly await further updates as the championship approaches, hoping for positive news on Ford’s availability and a resolution to the disagreements that could impact the future of the domestic game.
