George North
| Date of birth | 13 April 1992 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | King's Lynn, Norfolk | ||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 1⁄2 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 51 |
(5) (70) (130) |
| correct as of 23 January 2016. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2010– 2013 |
Wales U16 Wales U18 Wales British and Irish Lions |
57 3 |
(120) (10) |
| correct as of 13 February 2016. | |||
George Philip North (born 13 April 1992) is a Wales and British and Irish 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 King's Lynn. His mother is Welsh and from Anglesey, Wales, and his father is English and from Yorkshire. The family returned to Anglesey 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]
- North, aged 18 years, 214 days, became the youngest player ever to score a try in his debut for Wales. The previous record holder was Tom Pearson, who was aged 18 years, 238 days when he scored against England in 1891.
- He also became the youngest player to have scored two tries in his debut, with the opposition being a major rugby nation. (The only younger player to have scored two or more tries in his debut was Gustavo Jorge of Argentina, who was not yet 18 when he scored six tries in his debut in 1989—but the Pumas' opponent was Brazil, who have never qualified for the World Cup.)
- He also became the youngest player ever to have scored two tries against a major rugby nation, whether on his debut or not. The previous record holder was James O'Connor of Australia, who was aged 18 years, 343 days when he scored a hat-trick against Italy in 2009. (Taylor Paris of Canada turned 18 in October 2010 and scored two tries in his second appearance against Spain on the same day as North's debut, but Spain is also not considered a major rugby nation, although they have qualified for one World Cup.)
2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia
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 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 a 41-16 victory.
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 became ambassador for Welsh Children's Cancer Charity LATCH Wales in January 2012.
References
- 1 2 Paul Rees (11 November 2010). "Wales turn to 18-year-old George North to face South Africa". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- 1 2 "BBC - Early Wales cap for Scarlets winger George North". BBC News. 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
- ↑ Rob Griffiths (16 September 2010). "North Walian youngster George North shining for Scarlets". Daily Post. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
- ↑ Davies, Sean (2010-11-13). "George North makes Wales debut". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
- ↑ "Boks hold on for victory". Planet Rugby. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ↑ Richards, Huw (2010-11-19). "A record-breaking debut". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Lions 2013: George North feels 'horrendous' for try-scoring gesture". The Guardian (London). 2013-06-28. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ↑ "BBC Sport - George North: Northampton sign Scarlets and Wales wing". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
External links
- Northampton Saints Player Profile
- Scarlets Player Profile
- News from Walesonline
- Wales profile
- ESPN Profile
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