George North

For other uses, see George North (disambiguation).
George North
Date of birth 13 April 1992
Place of birth King's Lynn, England
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 109 kg (17 st 2 lb)
School Llandovery College
Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing / Outside Centre
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2010
2010–2013
2013–		 Llandovery
Scarlets
Northampton Saints		 4
45
39		 (5)
(70)
(115)
correct as of 27 March 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)


2010–
2013		 Wales U16
Wales U18
Wales
British and Irish Lions

49
3

(110)
(10)
correct as of 21 March 2015.

George Philip North (born 13 April 1992 in King's Lynn) is a Wales and British Lions international rugby union player. His usual position is winger but he has also played as a centre. He currently plays club rugby for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership.

Early life

North was born in 1992 in kings lynn . His mother is Welsh and from Anglesey, Wales, and his father is English and from Yorkshire; he was a Police Sergeant in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. His family moved to Hong Kong, on Royal Air Force duty, when he was 14 weeks old. The family returned to blackwood on 13 January 1995 when he was aged two and he is a fluent welsh language speaker.[1] Educated at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern on Anglesey and later at Llandovery College in West Wales, he played as a junior for Llangefni, Pwllheli, Rhyl and Gogledd Cymru under-16s.[2]

Up to the point of his international call-up, North had played six matches for the Scarlets first team, a record restricted by an injury.[3]

International career

After an impressive start to the 2010 season, in October 2010, he was selected to the 33 man squad for the Autumn international series.[1][2] On 11 November 2010 North was named in the Wales team to face South Africa on 13 November, making him the joint third youngest player to represent Wales behind Tom Prydie and Norman Biggs and equal to Evan Williams.[4]

North made an impressive start to his international career on Saturday 13 November 2010 in a match against the reigning World Champions, by scoring two tries for Wales as they lost to South Africa 29–25 in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.[5] He set a number of Welsh and international records in the match:[6]

In September 2011 North scored two tries against Namibia, making him the youngest ever try scorer at a Rugby World Cup competition aged 19 years and 166 days and beating the record set by Australian Joe Roff.

In February 2012, aged 19, he broke yet another international record when his try in the opening Six Nations win against Ireland made him the youngest player in rugby history to score 10 international tries. He became the first teenager to attain 20 caps for Wales on 10 March 2012 versus Italy.

He was named as part of the Lions squad for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

On 22 June 2013 in Brisbane, North scored the first Lions try vs Australia; a fantastic run from inside his own 10m line beating 4 players.[7] However, North's celebration was slightly over exuberant and he later apologised, saying he felt 'horrendous' after making a triumphant gesture towards Will Genia.[8] The Lions went on to win the First Test 23-21.

On 29 June 2013, North notably carried out a 'fireman's lift' manoeuvre on Australia's Israel Folau whilst running with the ball in the Second Test between the Lions and Australia in Melbourne, injuring himself in the process as the Lions went down to a 16-15 defeat.

On 6 July 2013 in Sydney, North scored his fourteenth international Test try and his second Lions Test try as the Lions sealed a 2-1 series win over Australia with an emphatic 41-16 victory.

On 28 February 2015 in the Wales versus France Six Nations fixture North became the youngest player to attain 50 international caps at the age of 22.

Northampton Saints

2013-14

On 9 April 2013 it was confirmed that North would sign for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership for a reported fee of over £200,000. This announcement followed the Welsh Rugby Union claiming that Scarlets had attempted selling North to French clubs, which they had denied.[9]

He scored his first Northampton Saints try against Sale Sharks after some excellent work by Jamie Elliott to make the score 12-0 in a game that finished 33-14 to Northampton. He scored his first Heineken Cup try for Saints on 14 December against Leinster Rugby.

2014-15

North began the season well by scoring 3 tries on the opening night of the Premiership season against Gloucester Rugby.

Personal life

North is currently in a relationship with Wales track cycling star Becky James.[10][11][12][13][14]

North became ambassador for Welsh Children's Cancer Charity LATCH Wales in January 2012.

International tries

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  South Africa Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Autumn International 13 November 2010 Loss 29 - 25 [15]
2  South Africa Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Autumn International 13 November 2010 Loss 29 - 25 [15]
3 Barbarians F.C.† Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Summer International 4 June 2011 Loss 31 - 28 [16]
4  England London, England Twickenham Stadium RWC Warm-up 6 August 2011 Loss 19 - 23 [17]
5  England London, England Twickenham Stadium RWC Warm-up 6 August 2011 Loss 19 - 23 [17]
6  Argentina Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium RWC Warm-up 20 August 2011 Win 28 - 13[18]
7  Namibia New Plymouth, New Zealand Taranaki Stadium 2011 Rugby World Cup 26 September 2011 Win 81 - 7 [19]
8  Namibia New Plymouth, New Zealand Taranaki Stadium 2011 Rugby World Cup 26 September 2011 Win 81 - 7 [19]
9  Fiji Hamilton, New Zealand Waikato Stadium 2011 Rugby World Cup 2 October 2011 Win 66 - 0 [20]
10  Ireland Dublin, Ireland Aviva Stadium 2012 Six Nations Championship 5 February 2012 Win 23 - 21 [21]
11  Australia Melbourne, Australia Etihad Stadium Summer International 16 June 2012 Loss 23 - 25 [22]
12  France Paris, France Stade de France 2013 Six Nations Championship 9 February 2013 Win 16 - 6 [23]
13  Australia Brisbane, Australia Suncorp Stadium 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia 22 June 2013 Win 23 - 21 [24]
14  Australia Sydney, Australia ANZ Stadium 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia 6 July 2013 Win 41 - 16 [25]
15  Argentina Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Autumn International 16 November 2013 Win 40 - 6 [26]
16  Australia Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Autumn International 30 November 2013 Loss 26 - 30 [27]
17  Australia Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Autumn International 30 November 2013 Loss 26 - 30 [27]
18  France Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2014 Six Nations Championship 16 February 2014 Win 27 - 6 [28]
19  Scotland Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2014 Six Nations Championship 15 March 2014 Win 51 - 3 [29]
20  Scotland Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2014 Six Nations Championship 15 March 2014 Win 51 - 3 [29]
21  Fiji Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium Autumn International 15 November 2014 Win 17 - 13 [30]
22  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico 2015 Six Nations Championship 21 March 2015 Win 61 - 20 [31]
23  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico 2015 Six Nations Championship 21 March 2015 Win 61 - 20 [32]
24  Italy Rome, Italy Stadio Olimpico 2015 Six Nations Championship 21 March 2015 Win 61 - 20 [33]

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board of directors awarded a full international cap for the 4 June 2011 Barbarians test to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the WRU [34]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Paul Rees (11 November 2010). "Wales turn to 18-year-old George North to face South Africa". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "BBC - Early Wales cap for Scarlets winger George North". BBC News. 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  3. ↑ Rob Griffiths (16 September 2010). "North Walian youngster George North shining for Scarlets". Daily Post. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  4. ↑ Davies, Sean (2010-11-13). "George North makes Wales debut". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  5. ↑ "Boks hold on for victory". Planet Rugby. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  6. ↑ Richards, Huw (2010-11-19). "A record-breaking debut". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  7. ↑ "Lions 2013: George North's wonder-try was one of the best ever scored, says Sir Ian McGeechan". London: Daily Telegraph. 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  8. ↑ "Lions 2013: George North feels 'horrendous' for try-scoring gesture". The Guardian (London). 2013-06-28. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "BBC Sport - George North: Northampton sign Scarlets and Wales wing". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  10. ↑ "George is a great wind block". BBC Sport. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Steve James (24 February 2012). "Marked man George North looks for the gaps that extra attention on him will bring". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  12. ↑ Clare Hutchinson (18 February 2012). "George North 'doing well' after ankle injury, says cyclist girlfriend Becky James". WalesOnline.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  13. ↑ Gabby Logan (22 November 2013). "Becky James on George North's cycling ability". BBC News. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  14. ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/george-north-interview-british-lions-7379547
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Sean Davis (2010-11-13). "Wales 25-29 South Africa". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  16. ↑ Sean Davis. "Wales 28-31 Barbarians". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Bryan Palmer. "England 23-19 Wales". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  18. ↑ Bruce Pope. "Wales 28-13 Argentina". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Rugby World Cup 2011: Wales 81-7 Namibia". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  20. ↑ "Rugby World Cup 2011: Fiji 0-66 Wales". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  21. ↑ "Six Nations: Ireland 21-23 Wales". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  22. ↑ "Australia 25-23 Wales". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  23. ↑ "Six Nations: France 6-16 Wales". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  24. ↑ "Lions 2013: Australia 21-23 British and Irish Lions". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  25. ↑ "British and Irish Lions thrash Australia to seal series win". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  26. ↑ "Wales beat Argentina 40-6 in Cardiff in autumn international". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Autumn internationals: Australia edge Wales in Cardiff thriller". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  28. ↑ Bruce Pope. "Six Nations 2014: Wales 27-6 France". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Six Nations 2014: Wales thrash Scotland as Stuart Hogg sent off". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  30. ↑ Gareth Roberts. "Wales 17-13 Fiji". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2015-01-13.
  31. ↑ Gareth Roberts. "Wales 61-20 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  32. ↑ Gareth Roberts. "Wales 61-20 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  33. ↑ Gareth Roberts. "Wales 61-20 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  34. ↑ "Wales to award Test caps for Baa Baas clash". ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-18.

External links