The Future of Welsh Rugby
March 19, on a Saturday night in Paris, Wales were comprehensively beaten by a France side who only a week earlier had been humiliated when they were defeated by Italy in Rome. The 28-9 defeat ended Wales' slim chances of winning the 2011 Six Nations, however, the Welsh still have a promising future ahead of them.
Shane Williams' knee injury in the penultimate round of this year's tournament meant that George North would earn his first Six Nations cap for Wales. On a night where few players in a red shirt impressed, the Scarlets' player showed he is a man with great potential.
Having scored two tries on his debut against South Africa in November last year, North has been hugely praised for his recent form that earned him the call up as he looks fully capable of replacing Shane Williams as a Welsh rugby icon.
34 year old Shane Williams, who is Wales' record try scorer with a total of 53 tries, is set to retire after this year's World Cup in New Zealand following a hugely successful career in rugby but Wales coach Warren Gatland will be delighted with his potential replacement, George North, who is continuing his rapid rise on the rugby stage.
North, who only turned 19 eight days ago, has been the talk of Welsh rugby over recent months. He returned from injury in February to score a try in the Scarlets' 11-3 win over Edinburgh in the Magners League and with the World Cup fast approaching, North has a great chance of being selected for Warren Gatland's squad.
The media hype surrounding the Scarlets' player hasn't phased North in the slightest. His work ethic and professionalism show how great a prospect he is for the future of Welsh rugby and fans will know that if he achieves half of what Williams did in his career, he could well go down in Welsh rugby history.
.jpg "Henry Pollock, who was part of the England U20s set-up last term, scored two tries off the bench")
