The product of a rugby family, George Ford seemed destined for a rugby league career after stints as a teenager with Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls academies, but at 15 he joined Leicester Tigers, where his reputation as one of the most gifted young talents in English rugby took root.

Following terrific performances for England Under-18s, he was nominated for the 2009 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award. He was rapidly promoted to the England Under-20 set-up and in 2011 he helped them to the Six Nations Grand Slam and Junior World Championship final in Italy.

That led to him becoming the first Englishman to be named IRB World Junior Player of the Year in December 2011. He soon joined Championship side Leeds Carnegie on loan and continued to develop with the Tigers on his return. Early in 2012 he inspired Leicester to the Anglo-Welsh Cup title, with his kicks proving the difference in a semi-final win over Bath and in the decider against Northampton at Sixways in Worcester.