Northampton Saints and Wales winger George North says the thought of packing rugby in, after suffering four concussions in five months, has never crossed his mind. Given what several ex-players have revealed about the long term effects that taking several knocks to the head can have, no-one would begrudge North if it was something he had considered.
Wales coach Warren Gatland this week said he feared for North’s future if he were to suffer another couple of concussions, confessing that it could well end his career. North, however, insists his recovery is going well and remains bullish about his future. But has he considered retirement at all?
“For me at 23, no. I’ve been to see a specialist and had the appropriate scans, and I’m following the right protocol,” said the Northampton winger. “I’m following the right steps, I know the system and I know how well it’s been working with me, so I think I’ll come through it ok.
“Right now it’s best just to give it a bit more time to get it right now, so it’s not an issue later on.”
Despite making progress on the road to recovery, it is hugely unlikely that he will return for the Saints this weekend as they take on the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road – traditionally one of the biggest games in the club’s calendar, but something of a dead rubber given that Northampton have already guaranteed finishing in top spot.
The Saints’ superb domestic form has seen them secure that home semi-final berth well ahead of time, and the Welsh winger admits it has been tough to watch his comrades tearing it up on the pitch while having to remain in the stands himself.
“It’s the sort of thing you think in pre-season, when the weather’s horrible, that you’re looking forward to the end of the season – unfortunately I’ve missed what I call my time of the season, when the pitches are quick and the weather’s come good. But it is what it is.”
With the play-off race balanced on a knife edge, Leicester, Exeter and Saracens are essentially engaged in knockout rugby. The Saints’ early qualification has allowed them the luxury of sitting back and watching their rivals knock lumps out of each other.
“I think it puts us in a great position,” North said. “It’s the first time we’ve finished top of the league, and if you look at the run of games we’ve had, we’ve come out on top and it puts us in good stead knowing that we’ve got a home semi-final confirmed early.”
While the Saints have gone from strength to strength, it has been a rather more turbulent couple of years for North’s country of birth. The acrimonious stand-off between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regions undoubtedly played a role in North’s leaving Wales to play his rugby in England.
Things are calmer now after the peace deal in late 2014, with both parties working together to keep Wales’ top talent within its borders. But there are plenty of positives to plying ones trade in another country for a while, soaking up their rugby culture in the process – North is a prime example of this.
“It [playing for Northampton] has given me another string to my bow. It’s allowed me to play a better quality of rugby for the whole season. I had an opportunity with Saints and took it well last season.
“Each individual is different, but it’s a question of where you think as a player you’ll benefit most. If you’re staying where you are and not playing a great deal of rugby then the opportunity to go away and play regular rugby and develop as a player is something to look at.”
It’s a debate that is increasingly affecting more and more rugby nations, with the Australian Rugby Union recently relaxing their own laws on picking players based abroad. Given the Wallabies are in Wales’ World Cup pool, North is in no doubt that they will be a tougher proposition for it – and he admits he would not be surprised to see England do something similar in future.
“If you look at Australia, who have come out and said they’re going to look at playing their guys playing outside the country, it’s only going to strengthen their squad. If England look at these guys then it’s going to benefit them. Australia’s squad for the World Cup is going to be a lot better for it.”
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
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