WALES’ NEW WINGER NORTH SAYS SCARLETS RUGBY HAS GIVEN HIM THE PLATFORM TO PERFORM

George North, the Scarlets’ 18-year old wing sensation has been handed the honour of a place in the starting line-up with Wales who face South Africa this Saturday at the Millennium Stadium. He becomes the 200^th international Scarlet.

North Walian rugby talent North, a former Llangefni, Pwllheli and Rhyl youth player is one of a batch of new generation Scarlets making an impact on the domestic and international scene.

The young winger, who shone with Wales U18s and U20s was handed a development contract with the Scarlets this summer after coming through with flying colours from the Scarlets Academy system studying at Llandovery College and playing for Llandovery RFC.

North gets the opportunity for his first Wales cap on the wing and becomes Wales’ 1,078^th to take the field after just five months of senior squad rugby at the Scarlets. He was “delighted and proud” to get his name on the Wales team sheet for the first time.

North will join fellow Scarlets Matthew Rees, who has once again been handed the captain’s armband for this Saturday’s encounter for the second time and experienced outside half Stephen Jones who starts at 10 against South Africa.

North said: “It’s been an amazing few months for me and to now get the chance of a Wales cap is such an honour, I can’t really believe it has happened but I will take this opportunity and will give it all I can.

“I’m pleased with how my rugby is developing. It’s been such a great season for me so far and now I’ve got the chance to play for my country – the Scarlets coaches have had faith in me and handed me the chance to play right from the beginning of the season. I’ve worked hard on my game and came to Parc y Scarlets just wanting to learn, keep my head down and keep a focus on improving my rugby.

“It’s an excellent environment at Parc y Scarlets, particularly for developing players like myself and the opportunities and support I’ve been given in such a short space of time to prove myself has been brilliant.

“The thing that’s struck me since I joined is how hard this team wants to work for each other, it’s a great place to be, there’s a really good vibe down West and I just really enjoy coming into training.”

North played in all of the Scarlets first seven games this season, including friendlies against Gloucester and Worcester, scoring his first two tries for the region against Benetton Treviso away in Italy on his Magners debut, with four tries from the five competitive Scarlets fixtures in which he’s featured in this season. At 6ft 4ins and 16st 9lbs, North is a winger built for the modern era.

Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies said: “I am delighted for George, he’s got real ability and talent as a player but equally has an intelligent and hard-working approach – a real pro, and that will just push him further. I have been really impressed with the way he has conducted himself at the Scarlets and he has the potential to be a very special player.

“He has quality and this opportunity to get his first Wales cap at just 18 will no doubt inspire him, give him added confidence and help him to reach his potential over the next few years.

“The exciting thing is that is he one of a group of next generation Scarlets who have come through our development system, are getting game time and are showing real talent and ambition and commitment to our values as a rugby region.

“If you look at the group of emerging players we had on the field against Leeds last weekend and what they achieved against a physical English side, there is a lot to be optimistic about.”

North is one of a group of young Scarlets who have signed development contracts over the summer including Scott Williams, Gareth Davies, Nick Reynolds, Nic Cudd as well as Dan Newton, Ben Morgan and Rhys Lawrence.

“It’s important that these players get to train and play at Scarlets’ first team level early on and get experience alongside top-class international players.  If they play with and against the best, they know where they have to get to – where to set the bar and that’s crucial early on,” said Davies.

Chief Executive of the Scarlets, Mark Davies added that the whole region will be behind North on his Wales debut and that there was great pride at Parc y Scarlets from staff and supporters in hearing the young Scarlet will get his first Wales cap and that Scarlets skipper, Matthew Rees, was captaining his country once again.

“Nigel Davies and Gareth Jenkins have worked tirelessly – with real commitment, planning and belief over the past few years to identify and bring forward talented players into the first team set-up at the earliest opportunity as part of our philosophy to develop great young talent from within our region.

“We’re now seeing some of the results of that long-term vision and hard-work and how some of our best young talent is benefiting from early exposure to the demands of professional rugby.  George North’s story is testimony to what is being achieved here.”