Sharks move is plain Sale-ing for star Ford SARACENS v SALE

GEORGE FORD says he put love before money to join Sale and try to bring rugby union glory to his home region.

The England fly-half (inset) spearheads Sharks’ attempt to become English champions for the first time since 2006.

He does so after swapping Leicester Tigers, last year’s Premiership winners, for a club with bags of ambition but precious little in the trophy cabinet.

Oldham-born

Ford insists the package Sale offered him was not what lured him back to the North West.

“If it was about that, the financial stuff, I wouldn’t have moved,” he said. “It was a bit more than that.

“The reasons were coming up to where I grew up, coming up to be close to family, coming to a team I knew had unbelievable potential and hopefully to start challenging for titles. “Sometimes the easier decision as a player is to be more comfortable, to stick with what you know. “But sometimes what brings the best out of you is coming out of your comfort zone, coming to a new team where you have to start influencing and proving yourself to a whole new group.”

The emotion Ford brought to Sale’s semifinal win over Leicester, in front of the biggest home crowd the club has known, showed what it means to him. “We understand the challenges of the football and rugby league teams around us, that’s not going to change, is it?” he said.

“But we are trying to inspire people around this area and make them proud.”

For Sale to upset Saracens this afternoon without injured stars Ben Curry and Dan du Preez will require a monster effort.

Ford comes up against Owen Farrell, his friend with whom he grew up.

“The consistency Owen plays at very rarely dips,” said the 30-year old.

And Farrell, 31, who played rugby league as a child, has admitted he still wonders if he would have been any good at the 13-a-side discipline.

“I always wonder if I could do it, if I’d be any good,” he said.

“I love the game, I love watching Wigan.

“I’m obsessed with the NRL.”