George Ford is revelling in the opportunity to be part of England's Six Nations squad - even if so far he's only had a watching brief on matchdays.
Bath life
Leicester was his first home in union - he helped the Tigers win the most recent Aviva Premiership final. However, first-team chances were at something of a premium with the presence of Toby Flood at Welford Road. Ironically, Ford was recently promoted to replace his former club colleague in the England squad.
A move was needed to further his career last summer, and now the two Fords are the driving force behind a resurgence at Bath. So, did family ties play a part in his move to the Rec last year?
"He fully let me make the decision," he said in response to that line of questioning. "Obviously I spoke to him about it because he was already at Bath at the time, but I spoke to other clubs as well.
"He made me have a balanced view on all the clubs. He asked me what I wanted to do and said at the end of it all it was my decision.
"It was an opportunity to go and try and get as much game time as possible. It was at a time in my career when I needed to go to a place where I was going to play as much as possible.
"I thought Bath was the best place, and it's worked out up to date."
The younger Ford is also adamant that their working relationship has not changed the father-son ties, adding: "There have been no problems at all. Obviously we work together each day at the club and he's my coach, then I see him out of the rugby environment and he's my dad. Nothing has changed there.
"It's helped this year that we've been doing all right and hopefully that can continue."
Ford has certainly been doing all right this season. While the wait goes on to make his England debut having been left out of the squad to play in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield, the 20-year-old knows he has time on his side.
Get the latest behind-the-scenes news from George Ford and his England teammates with the upcoming fifth season of O2 Inside Line, the weekly show from O2 - proud partner of England Rugby - and the RFU www.O2InsideLine.com
