George North Set To Hold Talks With Welsh Region
Wanted man.
Dragons boss Bernard Jackman has revealed that they will hold talks with Lions winger George North in a bid to convince him to join the Welsh region at the end of the current season.
North is set to depart the Northampton Saints in the summer, after agreeing a deal with the WRU, but is yet to decide which region he will be lining out for next season. Jackman’s side have already captured the signature of Ross Moriarty, which they hope will help persuade North to make the move.
Jackman says he hopes to meet North in the coming weeks.
“I think the plan is to meet him over Christmas or in the early New Year,” Jackman said today.
“He’s in no rush. He’s coming back to Wales, which is an amazing coup for the WRU. He’s in no rush to meet any of us — he can take his time.
“When the opportunity arises, we’ll meet him, which I’m sure most if not all of the regions will and have a chat with him and see if our project is of interest to him.
“We would love to have him. He’s a world-class player and a world-class bloke.”
The Dragons are hoping to make a number of signings ahead of next season, with as many as 14 players set to join the region. They’ve also signed Rhodri Williams along with Moriarty, with Jackman and the WRU hoping to make the Dragons the top region in the country over the next three years.
Jackman hopes their vision and ambition will entice other players to join the club.
“It does. We announced Rhodri Williams from Bristol a month ago and I think he’s going to be a cracking signing,” Jackman continued.
“Maybe because he’s been playing in England people have lost touch with his form but he’s coming back to Wales a far better player than he was when he left and he was a very good player leaving.
“Ross is a great signing and Rhodri is a really good coup for us to get and, if he can be first choice for the Dragons, I think he could force his way into Welsh reckoning for the World Cup.”