Johnathon Ford links up with “best mate” Kheirallah at Featherstone

Ambitious Championship leaders Featherstone have made another huge signing with the capture of former Toulouse playmaker Johnathon Ford.

The 32-year-old had been without a club since leaving the French side on the eve of their first ever Super League season, and will link up with Brian McDermott’s promotion favourites at Post Office Road in the next fortnight.

The Cook Islands international has been handed the number 29 shirt and his arrival follows hot on the heels of former Toulouse team-mate Mark Kheirallah, who scored his first Featherstone try in their Good Friday win over Barrow. 

France international Kheirallah also left Toulouse in the build-up to the new season. Both he and Ford were locked in a dispute over their vaccination status.

The pair will now link up at a Featherstone side who are much-fancied to gain promotion to Super League for the first time in the club’s history.

“I can’t describe how happy I am to share the field again with my best mate,” said Ford.

“We have a connection that’s hard to find, where we barely have to talk on the field. It really is something special.

“Kheirallah was rapping the place, loving it. That gave me the itch and the burn to do something special again.”

Featherstone boss delighted to secure Johnathon Ford signature

Ford captained Toulouse to their Grand Final win over Featherstone last October and his signing represents another huge statement of intent from the Championship leaders.

“I’m delighted to welcome a player of Johno’s talent and experience to the club,” Rovers chief executive Martin Vickers added.

“We’ve said time and again that we will leave no stone left unturned in trying to achieve our goal. This is another clear demonstration of that policy. 

“The team’s performance on Good Friday show’s that we’re getting there in delivering on the field. Now, more than ever we need the backing of the Blue Wall.”

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