George Ford says Leicester Tigers will work hard and work smart over the summer months to prepare for next season.

Ford was named the Aviva Man of the Match after guiding Tigers to a 35-13 win at Sale Sharks in the final game of the season to secure Champions Cup qualification for next season.

The 25-year-old said the squad was already eyeing how to improve for the new campaign after the disappointment of missing out on a semi-final place.

“It was a good win for us to finish the season,” said Ford, who will go away with England after being named in their squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa.

“We are going to get better, we will make sure of that. We will stand together, we will fix a few things up and we will work hard.

“We will work smart as well, because it’s not just about working hard, we will work smarter and come back next year a better team.

“The preparation for next season starts now. I am sure Mark Bakewell will do a lot of work with the forwards, stripping everything down, and we will look to make gains in our bodies, getting quicker and stronger.”

Ford captained Tigers for the second successive game when he led them out at the AJ Bell Stadium, and the fly-half says it is a role he has enjoyed.

“It’s a great team to be involved in,” said Ford. “We are all really tight. The senior players in the team Tom and Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Brendon O’Connor, and people like that, are a pleasure to work with.

“Captaincy is not just a one-man role. All the lads lead and play their part, not just in the game but during the week as well.”

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