-Credit:Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images
George North was given an incredible welcome by Provence Rugby fans as he made his home debut on Friday night.
After making his debut as a replacement against Agen last weekend, North got his first start for the Pro D2 club. He was going up against fellow Wales international Sam Davies on the night, who plays at fly-half for Grenoble.
Provence fans held up photos of North’s face in the crowd, along with a huge Wales flag with ‘Welcome George’ written in red. The Welshman ran out to a great reception at Stade Maurice David, which holds 8,767 fans.
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North got the bragging rights on Friday night, winning 24-18. He played alongside Wallabies lock Izack Rodda, formerly of Lyon in the Top 14. North played the full 80 minutes, helping guide his new team to an important victory.
Davies, who has won eight caps for Wales and has been instrumental in Grenoble’s recent form, knocked over a penalty before being yellow-carded for preventing the opposition from taking a quick penalty. Five minutes into the second half, Davies struck a drop goal to put his side three points into the lead at 18-15.
However, due to poor Grenoble discipline in the final quarter, there were three successful penalty kicks from North’s teammate Jules Soulan, so it was an eight-point winning margin in the end.
North had a couple of touches for his new club, but didn’t score. He had an important involvement at the end of the game, quashing danger by kicking a loose ball from his own half deep into the Grenoble 22.
North’s face was plastered across the stands. -Credit:(Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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The result has moved Provence further up the table into third place on 49 points. Above them are Beziers, on 51 points, and Davies’ Grenoble are top of the table on 56 points.