Good body-work will keep vintage Ford running for a few years yet

ENGLAND FLY-HALF LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED IN BID TO PROLONG CAREER

- BY ADAM THAWAY

GEORGE FORD is bidding to stretch his career for club and country past the next World Cup in 2027 - after taking up Pilates.

The Sale and England fly-half, now 32, has put plenty of rugby miles on the clock since making his domestic debut, for Leicester, aged 16 years and 237 days in 2009.

He has racked up 102 England caps, three Six Nations wins, including the 2016 Grand Slam, two Premiership titles and was a World Cup runnerup in 2019.

Ford is renowned for his preparation, and has turned over another stone as he sets his sights on winning the global title at his fourth attempt after re-signing for Sharks.

Ford revealed: "I'd like to think I was doing a fair bit already, but I've been doing a lot more Pilates.