James Ford

August 2023 to February 2025

As Rovers approached the run in of a highly successful league campaign in 2023, the club took the unusual step of replacing the head coach (Sean Long) with just six league fixtures left, but having already all but secured top spot in the league table. Erstwhile Director of Rugby James Ford stepped in as caretaker coach for the rest of the season. Although Rovers fell to a disappointing defeat in the playoffs against London Broncos, Ford was appointed for the 2024 season. His first job was to oversee the complete reconstruction of the first team squad as a large number of senior players moved on at the end of 2023, and cuts in the playing budget meant that recruitment plans changed for 2024. Rovers played with a smaller squad, re-established a Dual registration agreement, this time with Hull KR, and began the season promisingly with a good Challenge Cup run and six wins from the opening seven league fixtures. A pronounced slump in form highlighted the weaknesses of the squad and, in the end, Rovers were lucky to qualify for the playoffs on the final day of the league season.

Another major reconstruction of the squad occurred before 2025 season, but Ford was in charge for just the first four matches, before a disappointing defeat at London led to his sacking.

As a player he had started his career in the Rovers Academy and made his first team debut in 2003 under coach Andy Kelly. After 34 games for Rovers in the three-quarters, he moved on to Sheffield, then Castleford and Widnes. He finished his playing days at York in 2014, and took over as head coach the following year. Over eight seasons in the role, he developed a strong reputation as he oversaw York’s development. After leaving at the end of 2022, he was appointed assistant at Wakefield Trinity, but within months had left there for the Director of Rugby role at Rovers, and then Head Coach.

2023: Won 6 Lost 1 = 85.71%

2024: Won 18 Lost 15 = 54.54%

2025: Won 3 Lost 1 = 75.00%

TOTAL: Won 27 Lost 17 = 61.36%