George Ford: England fly half’s career will be over if he joins Toulon as Red Rose coach Eddie Jones tells him: It’s an easy choice…
Fly-half is likely to leave Bath this summer and he's on the radar of the French moneybags where his dad is head coach
GEORGE FORD will say ‘au revoir’ to his England career if he joins his dad, Mike, at Toulon.
The Red Rose fly-half is likely to leave Bath next summer after a fall-out over his dad’s sacking in May.
Ford Sr is now head coach of moneybags French outfit Toulon.
Their owner Mourad Boudjellal is promising a star signing that will “blow people away” and Ford Jr, 23, is believed to be on the three-time European champions’ radar.
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But strict RFU rules mean players with clubs outside England cannot play for England.
Red Rose boss Eddie Jones admitted: “Ultimately he’s got to make a decision about whether he wants to play for England.
“It’s an easy choice: you either sign for an English club or you sign for a French club.
“You sign for a French club, you don’t play for England. If he doesn’t want to play for England, so be it.”
Jones says lock Courtney Lawes is “wrapped up like a mummy” and has until Tuesday to recover from his swollen knee.
And prop Mako Vunipola is due to join up with the England squad at their Algarve training camp today after yet another injury scare.
The Aussie added: “Mako has got a slight hip problem. He should be right to train by Thursday.”
WALES have ruled skipper Sam Warburton out of Saturday’s Test against Australia.
The flanker, 28, fractured a cheekbone a month ago and will get some game time with Cardiff.
But he should be available for the following Tests against Argentina, Japan and South Africa.