‘It’s not tiddlywinks’
Today against France George North will win his 50th Test cap, a truly remarkable return for a player who is just 22. Of course, he would have earned that landmark appearance against Scotland a fortnight ago but for two severe blows to the head he received in Wales’ Six Nations opener against England in Cardiff.
The footage of North being knocked out on the pitch caused uproar and even led to a change in how video will be used to monitor player welfare.
Now North has spoken about the England game, how each knock was handled and how he felt.
“The medical staff have been brilliant,” he tells Planet Rugby. “The time I went off (in the first half) the decision was taken that I had taken a blow to the chin, and obviously there is a protocol to follow. I came off, passed all the tests, remember everything that happened and went back on.
“Obviously, when the second one happened later on it was something that was difficult for them (medics) because they were trying to keep up with play and looking at other players, and all they have seen is me getting straight back to my feet.
“When they came over to treat me, I had a full conversation with Prav [Mathema, the Welsh team doctor]. I remember everything that happened.
“From there, the decision was made – obviously after a big blow in November – and being a young pup it was worth giving me a few days to recover. It was about making sure that in the long-term it was the right decision for me.”
North was also phlegmatic about the issue and the return to play protocols.
“At the end of the day it is rugby, isn’t it?
“It’s not table tennis or tiddlywinks, it is a contact sport and you are going to get some bangs, and unfortunately they were all on my chin.
“It has been a few weeks of hard work, just ticking the boxes and taking my welfare into account and ticking all the protocols, which is what happened from minute one.”
