When Bill Shankly signed a giant centre-half named Ron Yeats for Liverpool football club back in the day, he invited the gentlemen of the press to take a close-quarters look at the club’s new acquisition. “Go on, walk around him. He’s a colossus,” said the great man.
There are no reports of the Scarlets doing the same when they unveiled George North as a player. But he was an 18-year-old wing who stood 6ft 4in in his stockinged feet and weighed in at 16st 7lb. Those were no ordinary dimensions for a wide-man or, come to think about it, for a lad who had only just completed his A levels.
Anyway, press the fast-forward button and yesterday’s boy wonder hits 30 on Wednesday. Where have the years gone?
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A good question, but North has made good use of them, with 102 caps for Wales and three Tests for the Lions on the board. He has represented three clubs — Scarlets, Northampton and Ospreys — with distinction and before the knee injury sustained last year, he had been playing some of his best rugby.
The good news for him is that the big Three-O is a step along the way rather than an indicator of the finishing post ahead. There is still much for him to achieve and even scope for him to improve. As a former French prime minister once said: “Everything I know I learned after I was 30.”
Still, the mark is a milestone. North’s league league debut came for the Scarlets in Italy against Benetton Treviso on September 4, 2010. The new boy scored two tries in a 34-28 defeat for the visitors.
Who featured in the Scarlets side for North’s first game of competitive professional rugby all those years ago? Llanelli rugby historian Les Williams tells Mark Orders the details.
The words are his…
15. Morgan Stoddart
This guy was a very good rugby player, solid and a strong runner. Once he’d settled into the side he made the full-back position his own. He made 85 appearances for the Scarlets before an injury playing for Wales which ultimately led to him finishing as a player at the age of just 28. It was a shame because he still had a lot to offer. He is coaching at Cross Keys now and went into property development. You can read more about him here.
14. George North
I had heard about him but not seen him. Then this big guy walked into the Thomas Arms in Llanelli and I said to the chap I was with “who’s that?”
“That’s George North,” he replied.
I said: ‘I thought he was a back rather than a forward.” I couldn’t believe he could play behind the scrum being the size he was. He was massive. He made his debut for us at 18 years and four months in a friendly. Then he played in the league against Benetton Treviso a month later. I liked him as a player and as a person. He played 45 times for us and scored 14 tries.
13. Garet h Maule
He memorably raced past Brian O’Driscoll in a game in 2014. Brian later said it was the moment he realised he wasn’t as quick as his younger self. Gareth’s a Gwent boy who had joined the Scarlets as a youngster and he did well for us. He’s a sports agent these days.
12. Regan King
What can you say about this guy as a rugby player? If I was picking an all-time great Llanelli and Scarlets rugby XV he would be in it. An absolute magician of a player. His passing was sublime. In two spells he played 185 times for us, scoring 37 tries. Last I heard he was playing in Italy.
11. Andrew Fenby
From North Wales, Andy was a rapid wing who averaged a try every third game for the Scarlets. I rated him highly. The boys called him ‘Briefcase’ because he was a clever sort who had a background in accounts.
10. Rhys Priestland
A nice boy and a good player who scored 1,102 points for us from 157 games. Deserved to pass 50 caps for Wales. Rhys left for Bath and now plays for Cardiff
9. Martin Roberts
An Aberdare-born lad who had played for the Ospreys before joining us. He was capped out of the Scarlets and performed very tidily over his 79 games. Went on to spend time in England.
1. Iestyn Thomas
An absolute gem of a bloke — popular with everyone and a really good player with it. Iestyn played 214 games for us and proved himself a stalwart, reliable and always willing to go the extra mile. There were also 33 caps for Wales. He’d talk to anyone. I can’t speak highly enough about him.
2. Emyr Phillips
There’s always been big competition at hooker at our club but Emyr put his body on the line and did everything that was asked of him and a bit more again. He was a terrific clubman who won caps for Wales but he had a number of long-term injuries. He played for the Scarlets on 152 occasions and is now transition and academy coach at the region.
3. Deacon Manu
An overseas import who was rarely seen without a smile on his face. He was mobile and hard working. For a while there was talk of Deacon playing for Wales, but he ended up representing Fiji and skippering them. Has since taught physical education in Singapore.
4. Lou Reed
One of rugby’s great characters, a joker everyone has a story about. He was good enough to win a Wales cap, too. Played 109 times in a Scarlets shirt. He later took on a medical sales role for a German company.
5. Damian Welch
Spent three years with us, playing 60 games. Also had stints with Exeter, Cardiff and Merthyr. Took up a coaching appointment at Plymouth Albion in 2020.
6. Josh Turnbull
Here’s someone who should have had a lot more caps than he’s won over the years. I’ve followed his career with Cardiff and he’s been outstanding for them, giving them great value. He’s another one it would have been nice to have seen stay with the Scarlets. But I’m glad he’s made a success of his time with Cardiff because he’s a great guy.
7. Johnathan Edwards
A fireman who spells his name differently but there was no doubt about what he brought as a player. He was a good openside who never let us down. Represented the Scarlets 119 times.
8. Rob McCusker
The first time I saw Rob he was working in the office at the Scarlets. The next thing I knew he was on the field playing. Proved a great servant over 135 games as a ball-playing back rower who also wore the captain’s armband. Had some time in England and at the Ospreys. To the best of my knowledge, he has an interest in a coffee shop in Llanelli.
