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‘Did cross my mind’: Wales great George North's stunning rugby league revelation

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

118-Test Wales veteran George North has revealed there was “an opportunity” for him to make a stunning code switch to rugby league after being approached to join the NRL.

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North, now 31, was among the standouts during the British and Irish Lions’ 2-1 series win over the Wallabies in Australia 10 years ago. The iconic image of the wing carrying tackler Israel Folau over his shoulder while trying to run an extra few metres will live on in Lions folklore forever.

The now-three-time British and Irish Lion clearly turned some heads during that tour, too, with the Welshman recently revealing there was an option to pursue a career change.

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Before becoming the Welsh rugby great that North now is, the utility back was approached about a potential move to Australia’s National Rugby League competition.

“Not many people know there was an opportunity for me,” North told The Guardian. “I was asked would I look at league in Australia?”

“I had a couple of conversations but drew a line under it pretty quickly. My biggest goal was to play for my country and not many people from north Wales get that opportunity.

“When I was sipping a gin and tonic in the Sydney sunshine it did cross my mind.

“But that was off the high of a series win. For me, it’s always been about rugby and Wales. It’s always been about the Three Feathers.”

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North’s revelation comes in the wake of 22-year-old Louis Rees-Zammit’s stunning decision to leave rugby union behind to pursue an opportunity with the NFL International Player Pathway program.

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Rees-Zammit, who has played for both Wales and the British and Irish Lions, was immediately released from his rugby contract last month.

The Welshman has since been pictured honing his new craft during the early stages of a 10-week intensive training camp in Florida.

“I’d heard little bits but fair play to him,” North said.

“I’m sure there are rugby fans going, ‘What is he doing?’ But my theory, as a wise old man, is that your career is so short.

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“He’s young enough to give it a couple of years. I hope it goes well for him. If it doesn’t, he can always come back.

“I messaged him saying, ‘Good luck, give it hell.’ What an awesome opportunity.”

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N
NB 33 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Nice bit if revisioniusm but that's all it is JW.


For your further education, I found the following breakdown of one prominent club's finances in the Top 14 [Clermont].


For Clermont (budget of €29.5 million for 2021-2022) :

- 20% from ticket sales

- 17% from the LNR (includes TV Rights, compensation from producing french internationals and other minor stuff)

- 5% from public collectivities (so you're looking at funds from the city of Clermont, the department of Puy-De-Dôme and the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)

- 4% from merchandising and events

- 3% from miscellaneous

- 51 % from sponsorships and partnerships. They've got 550 different partners. The main ones are CGI, Groupama, Limagrain/Jacquet, Omerin, Paprec, Renault and of course Michelin (not surprising since they're actually the founders of the club).


As you can see nothing comes from the FFR at all. The LNR is a separate entitiy to FFR and their aims frequently do not accord.


It is also why the European breakaway plotted by LNR and PR back in 2013 had nothing to do with the governing bodies of either England or France - and it most certainly did not have their blessing https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15331030/jean-pierre-lux-anglo-french-cup-detrimental-european-rugby


And from the horse's mouth [ex AB skipper Sean Fitapatrick] about the comp between Top 14 and Super Rugby:


"The Top 14 in France is probably the best rugby competition in the world at the moment, purely for the week-in, week-out.”


“I think the quality of players. They are bigger, they are faster, they are stronger. Which then carries on into the international game.”

Take it from someone who knows JW😅

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