North Wales rugby duo can't wait to face Australia for Wales U18s
Dec 5 2009 By Rob Griffiths, Daily Post
GEORGE NORTH is relishing a shot at the Wallabies today as he returns home to North Wales.
Winger North was named in the Wales under-18s starting XV to take on Australia Schools this evening at Eirias Park (6pm kick-off) along with fellow North Walian Rhodri Jones.
And while North insists it is not a revenge mission following last Saturday’s disappointing 33-12 defeat for the senior side at the hands of the Wallabies, he admits to looking forward to a return home.
Welsh-speaker North was born in Norfolk, but moved to Anglesey with his family when only three years old.
After playing through the various age groups for Llangefni, Pwllheli and latterly Rhyl, North was picked to represent the Gogledd Cymru U16s which went on to beat the Scarlets in 2007.
It was his performances for the junior Gogs that saw him picked up by the Scarlets academy and eventually earn Wales U18s honours.
And now he is hoping to unleash his talents on the junior Wallabies at what is now the home of Gogledd Cymru.
“It should be a great occasion,” said North. “It’s nice for North Wales to finally get a game like this, although it does mean that we still have to travel for what is a home game.
“It will be nice to come home – I don’t get much time to come back up to North Wales, and it will be nice to play rugby for Wales in what is an area that has always been dominated by football.
“I used to say when I was in secondary school that I wanted to play rugby for Wales and everyone used to say I’d be better off playing football coming from North Wales. So it is nice to prove them all wrong.”
And as far as tonight’s match with the Aussies goes, North is expecting a fast and furious encounter.
“We don’t know a lot about them,” he added. “But we have read a report of their game against the Irish Schools on the web and it seems like they have some very talented players.
“All we can do is go into the game and expect a good match. We have to play heads up rugby because we don’t know what to expect and just play the field in front of us.
“I understand they have a player with a huge boot on him, so I think I can expect a few high balls to deal with, but I am hoping it is an open game that will give me a chance to run with the ball.”
North is not the only North Walian to be called up for tonight’s clash, with prop forward Jones also making the starting XV.
Former Pwllheli youth player Jones was also picked up by the Scarlets academy following impressive performances for the junior Gogs.
The pair both attend Llandovery College and North admits it is nice to have a good friend nearby, adding: “It is good, after training we can sit down and talk about rugby and things in general.
“He picks me up when I think I’ve had a bad session or game and I try to do the same.
“We’ve got a really good friendship and I think that is important.”
Being at the Scarlets will give the pair every chance of making the grade in the professional game and North says seeing a few other northerners at the region gives him something to aspire to.
North Walians Rob Higgitt, Andrew Fenby, Rob McCusker and Joel Galley are all making names for themselves at the Llanelli-based region and North is hoping to follow on very soon.
“Sometimes you see them in training,” he said.
“It’s great to know that someone from the same area that I come from is doing so well in South Wales and it does give me something to aim for.”
