George Ford has been named Gallagher Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for October.
The Leicester Tigers fly-half was judged as the player who made the biggest impact in Gallagher Premiership Rugby in October 2021 by a panel of media professionals based on his performances in October 2021, alongside a public poll on the Premiership Rugby app.
Ford started at fly-half for Leicester in all five fixtures during October, scoring 83 points at an average of more than 16 points per match.
The 28-year-old was nominated for the monthly award alongside eleven fellow Premiership players, including Tigers team-mates Nemani Nadolo and Hanro Liebenberg.
Ford was quick to share the award with his Leicester team-mates when asked about his win.
"Thank you to everyone who voted, it's a nice award to win given the calibre of player we have in the Premiership," said Ford.
"But, you are never an individual in rugby, you only achieve things with the help of your team and so this is an award for everyone at Leicester Tigers.
"I'm enjoying myself out there on the pitch with a great group of guys at Leicester Tigers and enjoying the hard work we are putting in every day.
"People only really get to see highlights of what we get up to while preparing for games, and then the matches themselves, but there is so much that goes in to what we do and I'm grateful to be able to do that with the team-mates I have and do it at a club like Leicester Tigers."
Chris Noah, the Managing Director of Gallagher’s Leicester branch, said Ford was a deserving recipient for October's prize.
“As each of the five rounds in October extended Tigers’ unbeaten record and cemented their best-ever start to a Gallagher Premiership season, George Ford was at the centre of it all," said Noah.
"With his match-winning kicks, conversions and long-range penalties, George has been a class act, pivotal to the team’s performance and fully deserves this award amongst a top-quality squad enjoying such an impressive resurgence.
“For all our colleagues and clients across the East Midlands relishing being back in stands and playing an active role in the rugby community once more, George’s superb 40-metre drop goal during the derby against Saints was quite something to behold – no matter which team you were backing. Congratulations George!"
As part of his prize for being named Gallagher Player of the Month, Ford wins a shirt signed Leicester Tigers shirt - framed by Gallagher - to gift to a charity of his choice for them to raise funds for their chosen cause.
Ford gave the choice of charity to team-mate Tom Youngs and wife Tiffany, who have chosen Blood Cancer UK to receive the prize.
