Quick Facts
Biography
Johnathon Ford (born 17 August 1989) is an Australian-born Cook Islands professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Toulouse Olympique in the Kingstone Press Championship. A Cook Islands international representative back, he previously played for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He predominately plays in the halves but is also comfortable slotting into fullback and centre.
Background
Born in Toronto, New South Wales, Ford is of Cook Island and Irish descent. He is a cousin of former Hull Kingston Rovers player Byron Ford. Ford played his junior football for the Macquarie Scorpions before being signed by the Newcastle Knights.
Playing career
Ford played for the Knights' NYC team in 2008 and 2009, scoring 8 tries and kicking 1 goal in 30 games. In 2009, Ford played 3 games for the Cook Islands in the 2009 Pacific Cup. In 2010, Ford signed with the Sydney Roosters. In Round 23 of the 2010 NRL season he made his NRL debut for the Roosters against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. In 2012, Ford signed with Toulouse Olympique in the Elite One Championship. Ford continued playing for the Cook Islands team in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
In 2014, Ford joined the Wyong Roos in the New South Wales Cup.
In 2015, Ford continued to play with the Wyong Roos in the New South Wales Cup, helping them to the New South Wales Cup Grand final.
On 17 October 2015, Ford captained the Cook Islands in their Asia-Pacific Qualifier match against Tonga for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Ford played for Toulouse in their inaugural season in League 1, winning the competition's player of the year award.