Sale close in on another Ford; Newcastle to bring back old boy

Champ Rugby outfit Doncaster Knights are set to lose their head coach and attack coach after a double raid from PREM clubs.

RugbyPass understands that Darren Fearn will leave his role as Knights’ head coach after only one season at the helm to become a transition coach at his former club Newcastle.

A prop in his playing days, Fearn served as Doncaster’s forwards coach before being asked to step up into the main role at the start of the 2025/26 season when Joe Ford was hired by Sale Sharks.

He is well-known in north-east rugby circles, having not only played for Newcastle but also through his work coaching Northumbria University and as Director of Rugby at Newcastle University.

Meanwhile, Knights attack coach Jacob Ford, who arrived in Yorkshire in December, after spells in the National Leagues with Bury St Edmunds and Westcliff, is believed to be joining his brother in crossing the Pennines after accepting an offer to become Sale’s transition coach.

A deal involving both parties could be announced by their respective new clubs as early as next week.

Jacob Ford would become the third Ford brother on Sale’s books, joining England fly-half George and attack coach Joe, who’s taken on more responsibility, as Alex Sanderson’s right-hand man, since Marco Bortolami’s short tenure as head coach of the club ended abruptly earlier this season.

Losing both Fearn and Ford junior in one fell swoop would be a blow to Doncaster, who’ve lacked stability on the coaching front since Steve Boden departed in February 2024.

Club stalwart Tyson Lewis, who has had a variety of coaching roles since hanging up his boots, left the club earlier this month.

Doncaster are reverting back to a part-time model next season, which could have had some bearing on Fearn and Ford’s decision to take up offers elsewhere.