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Wales Online
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
George North makes feelings clear on Shaun Edwards as brutal 'Wall of Shame' remark revealed
George North makes feelings clear on Shaun Edwards as brutal 'Wall of Shame' remark revealed The former Wales wing is now out in Provence playing Pro D2 rugby, but has taken a look back on his international career George North (Image: The Rugby Pod ) Wales legend George North has revealed his love for former coach Shaun Edwards — describing him as the best he's ever worked under — and revealed the unique and ruthless motivational tactics the ex-defence guru used to get the best out of his players. Now playing in France with second-tier side Provence, North was interviewed by former international team-mate Dan Biggar as part of a candid catch-up on life after Welsh rugby. And while North touched on his love for life in France and the challenges of adapting to a new rugby culture, it was his memories of working under Edwards with Wales that stand front and centre in his mind. North, who earned 121 caps for Wales and four for the British and Irish Lions, recalled Edwards' notorious 'Wall of Shame' – a blunt post-match review pinned up for all to see. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. 'The nicest one I ever had was just empty, 'No comment',' North smiled, during the interview on The Rugby Pod. 'That only happened a couple of times!' Recalling one stinging piece of feedback from Edwards, he laughed: 'I had one I remember. It said, 'Do you know what you're doing? Do you listen?' I'd not done what he wanted, or I'd not listened!' Biggar chipped in with his own memory after one particular match, adding: 'We had come down and next to your name was 'Not international standard – sort it!'' Article continues below But behind the brutal honesty was a coach who, North said, cared deeply and commanded total respect. 'The best coach I've been under is Shaun Edwards. Hands down,' North said. 'If I said it was love and holding my hand, I'd be lying. He got the best out of me.' North described Edwards as 'obsessed' with preparation and detail — especially in defence — but praised his humility in owning mistakes when things went wrong. 'Each week he'd have extras based on who we were playing – like at Murrayfield, he was big on dead balls, so we'd spend all week chasing hundreds of them. "Little things like that. The thing I think is incredible about Shaun - everyone at this level is accountable - but he would be the first to put his hand up and say 'I didn't prepare you right'. "He would give you all the tools, ride you like a banshee to be the best you could be, but if they brought something to the table you weren't prepared for he would be the first to put his hand up. That's something I really admired about Shaun." Shaun Edwards and George North during Wales training in 2019 (Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency ) North also recalled the relentless energy and volume Edwards brought to training, especially for back-three players, whom he held to the highest standards. 'He was unreal. His defensive plan was black and white – you had your role and by God, he held you to it. 'If I was on the other side of the pitch and it wasn't even my fault, he'd still be shouting at me! I can still hear him now shouting, 'Get up, you're never injured!'' Despite the hard edge, North said Edwards always stayed in touch and was 'one of the nicest blokes', adding: 'He still sends me a message.' North also spoke about his move to Provence, where he has settled into life in the south of France with his wife Becky and their two young sons. 'The lifestyle is brilliant,' he said. 'The boys want to be outside all the time — on their bikes, in the skate parks, the swimming pool. It's amazing for that.' He admitted adapting to French rugby has taken time, going from a highly structured environment in Wales to a more free-flowing, unpredictable style. 'Some of it was next level, other bits were nuts,' he said. 'But I found a bit of a groove by the end of the season.' Reflecting on his career's toughest moments, North pointed to injuries that robbed him of potential Lions appearances in 2017 and 2021. '2017 Lions was tough," he said about the hamstring injury which saw him flown home prematurely after two Tests. "That's the only place you want to be and I just didn't get a chance. My hamstring ripped and it took a fair while to absorb that. "Between 2013 and 2015 I just wasn't hissing, just getting marked. That was when social media kicked in and everyone was telling everyone everything. I found that really tough. It wasn't through not trying - it was maybe over-trying. "But injuries are the worst. In 2021 I felt I was playing really good rugby at that time and the Lions tour to South Africa (was coming up) and I ruptured my ACL. "I thought I had a fair crack of the whip to be on that tour so that sits with me. "The injuries, the ACL, the injury with the Lions in 2021, not that I would have been picked, I should ask Gats (Warren Gatland). But they are the ones I found hard because there's nothing you can do about it. Article continues below "With form or social media, you can do something about it - but injuries is the pits for me."
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Sherratt addresses Wales return links and Lions certainty suffers major blow
Tonight's rugby news as Sherratt addresses Wales return links and Lions certainty suffers major blow The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Sherratt has spoken out after being linked with a return to the Wales job (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency ) These are your evening rugby headlines on Tuesday, April 29. Sherratt addresses Wales job links Matt Sherratt has addressed speculation linking him with the vacant Wales head coach job, saying he hasn't spoken to anyone at the Welsh Rugby Union about a potential return to the role. The Cardiff Rugby boss was interim head coach of Wales during the Six Nations, taking the reins from Warren Gatland after he left in the middle of the tournament, and has recently been tipped to come back temporarily to lead the side on the summer tour of Japan. While Steve Tandy remains the frontrunner to succeed Gatland permanently, it has been suggested that Sherratt is being lined up to lead the squad again for the two-Test tour in July, alongside current Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson. Quizzed on the rumours by Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod, the coach said: "Genuinely, I've not spoken to anyone about it, and I wouldn't say that if I had. I would probably just straight bat it. "But because of all the stuff that's been going on at Cardiff - we've had two games in six days, the club going into administration - and the WRU have been pretty busy with the Dave Reddin appointment, I've genuinely not spoken about it at all. "I'll see what happens in the next couple of weeks and see which direction they want to go in." 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby Article continues below As for taking on the job full-time, Sherratt quickly shut down those suggestions, adding: "No, I don't want it. For the reason that it's only my second year as a head coach, and to be honest, I never really wanted to be a head coach. "I did it at Cardiff because it was a good fit at the time, the club needed somebody in short-term. I get along well with the staff and the players there, so I thought I'd have a go. "But I still enjoy being on the grass and being part of the group and coach, and that's where I get my energy," he continued. "What I found from being a head coach is it ends up dragging you away a little bit... you're speaking to agents. I quite like going to the pub on a Sunday and it's wrecked that really!" Lions hopeful suffers major blow Scotland star Blair Kinghorn has suffered a major blow ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour, with a knee injury set to keep him out for "several weeks". The full-back has long been tipped as a starter for Andy Farrell's side in Australia this summer, after another impressive campaign for Toulouse in the Top 14. However, he has suffered a setback at the worst possible time after suffering a knee injury against Castres on Saturday, which forced him off the field after just seven minutes. According to reports in France, scans showed the Scottish international has suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, with RMC Sport reporting that he now faces between four and six weeks on the sidelines. Farrell will announce his squad for the tour next Thursday and while the injury may not be severe enough to rule him out of the tour completely, it will mean, if picked, he will head into tour preparations with not much recent rugby under his belt. The first Test against the Wallabies is not until July 17, but the first pre-Test match against Argentina is taking place in Dublin on June 20, in just over seven weeks' time. Kinghorn has definitely been ruled out of Toulouse's Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux on Sunday, and will likely miss the final in Cardiff on May 24 if his side make it through. Ex-Lions star lands coaching role Former England and British & Irish Lions star Riki Flutey has landed a new job as New Zealand Women's new backs and skill coach. The 45-year-old joins the Black Ferns' coaching set-up ahead of this year's Women's Rugby World Cup, becoming part of a ticket that already includes performance director Allan Bunting, rugby lead and attack coach Tony Christie, defence coach Steve Jackson and forwards coach Dan Cron. "It's truly an honour to be in this environment with the Black Ferns," said ex-London Irish and Wasps back Flutey, who was born in New Zealand and in 2009 became the first player to play for and against the Lions when he faced the Maori All Blacks. "I look to use my playing experiences and knowledge wherever I can add value to help grow each individual as we start building towards the Rugby World Cup. "A lot of these players here in camp inspired my daughter Madison to play rugby several years ago now," he added. "So it's special to be able to give back directly to those who inspired her. England coach told his job is safe By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent John Mitchell will remain England head coach until June next year regardless of how the Red Roses perform at the World Cup, according to the Rugby Football Union. England are favourites to win the tournament they are hosting in August and September having clinched a seventh successive Women's Six Nations title and amassed 55 wins in 56 Tests. Their only blemish is a 34-31 loss in the 2022 World Cup final to New Zealand, who have beaten the Red Roses in five of the last six finals. Experienced former All Blacks boss Mitchell was recruited to improve that record but RFU director of performance rugby Conor O'Shea insists he will stay in his post for the 2026 Six Nations even if he fails to deliver the title. 'Results are important but you don't want people thinking about what their next job is by having a contract finishing at that time,' O'Shea said. 'There will be no thought for anything until we get through the World Cup and Six Nations. I think it is very unhealthy to be insecure going into the World Cup – and that's the only focus we have. Article continues below 'We didn't want anyone speculating about anything because that's the most unhealthy thing that can happen in any environment. That's why there are no contract talks for players or coaches.'
