Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
21 - 18
FT
Gallagher PremiershipLondon Irish

Dragons sign Welsh-qualified ex-England U20 from the Premiership

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Dragons have confirmed the signing of George Nott, the Welsh-qualified 26-year-old second row who has made 59 appearances for London Irish. The former England U20s forward, who checks in at 6ft 6ins and over 18 stone, originally made his senior rugby breakthrough at Sale but he now returns to the land of his birth as he was born in Bodelwyddan.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nott joins Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Sean Lonsdale, JJ Hanrahan and Max Clark in committing their futures to the Dragons from next season and boss Dean Ryan explained: “We’re pleased to sign George and bring another Welsh-qualified player back home. 

“George has made a positive contribution at Sale Sharks and London Irish and is a great fit for the squad we are developing. His return to Wales ensures he is in the eye of the national selectors and he is determined to make a big impression with the Dragons.”

Video Spacer

Zach Mercer – Life in Montpellier & England Ambitions | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 30

Video Spacer

Zach Mercer – Life in Montpellier & England Ambitions | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 30

Not added: “I’m really excited to come back to Wales and join up with the Dragons. The Dragons are building a great squad and I am proud to be a part of it. It’s a new challenge for me and I’m eager to get stuck in and contribute.

“That being said, I have loved my time at London Irish and I’m fully committed to helping the team with some silverware before my departure. 

Related

Tackle school for Biggar as EPCR publish five disciplinary results

EPCR have published the outcome of five disciplinary hearings that took place this week, including its investigation into the red card copped by Wales skipper Dan Biggar during his Challenge Cup appearance last Saturday night for Northampton at Gloucester. 

Read Now

“The players, staff and supporters have been fantastic from the moment I stepped into Hazelwood and I can’t thank everyone enough. There is still a lot of rugby to be played before the end of the season and I am committed to giving my all for the London Irish shirt until then.”

Nott joined London Irish from Sale in August 2019. “We would like to wish George all the best with his move to Wales,” said Declan Kidney, the director of rugby at the Exiles. “He has been a consummate professional during his time with us and a role model for other players around the club.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

KOKO Show | July 8th | Bernard Foley stops by to talk the Wallabies winning and Lions being tested

England v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Georgia vs Ireland | Men’s International | Full Match Replay

Lions Share | Episode 2

Chile vs Romania | Men’s International | Full Match Replay

USA vs Belgium | Men’s International | Full Match Replay

Touchdown in Dublin, The Red Sea Returns & We Prepare to Face Argentina | Ep 2: The Ultimate Test

South Africa v British & Irish Lions | 2009 | Second Test | The Vaults

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Taniela Tupou joins Lion as two of six internationals signed by Racing 92

2

Paul O'Connell's Ireland fly home 2 players after bruising win over Georgia

3

Tour-ending injury to force England into another centre combination

4

Matt Giteau begs David Campese to 'stop' destroying his legacy in brutal tweet

5

Internal warning over Fiji issued as Scotland lose 2 players to injury

6

Record highs and lows as World Rugby Rankings get shaken up

7

Former All Blacks pick their right wing for second France Test

8

Les Kiss names full AUNZ squad to take on B&I Lions in Adelaide

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

The 'Tongan Thor' was penalised four times against the tourists, who need a traditionally strong Brumbies team to provide a real test before the Wallabies clash.

LONG READ

Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

The Wallabies coach has a major issue at fly-half, decisions to make in his pack as well as concerns over his back three.

LONG READ

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

A hugely rotated French squad came close to the upsetting the All Blacks' top dogs, but the challenge will only get tougher for Fabien Galthie's men.

Comments on RugbyPass

m
mt 7 minutes ago
All Blacks will thrash France on Saturday

This arrogance and disrespect by nz journalists is just astonishing!

2 Go to comments
C
ColinK 8 minutes ago
All Blacks will thrash France on Saturday

Oh god what an idiot posting this article, hubris is not in keeping with our teams ethos, sadly it is for some fans and journos though. Real AB’s fans don’t think this way.

2 Go to comments
J
Jason 30 minutes ago
‘Up there with the best’: Brumbies captain on Jamison Gibson-Park duel

So this World where Jameson Gibson Park is the best halfback… is that the same World de Klerk, Roigard and Du Pont live in?

1 Go to comments
B
BA 48 minutes ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

AAA Pollard Slips

Frost Skelton

Williams Harry Fraser

Bench

Bell Porecki Tupou Hooper Bobby V


Kick the leather off the ball to start finish with it in hand

11 Go to comments
A
Ardy 56 minutes ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

Taniela was the best prop I have seen in 40+ years of watching the Wallabies. The injury is a big issue, but what is not an issue is his lack of fitness; he seems so slow and, as others have suggested, disinterested. Is it the money and the old trope, ‘hard to fight, when sleeping on silk sheets’

I think his trip to France will make or break him, hopefully make him. I suspect we won’t see him again in the Wallabies.

24 Go to comments
B
BA 1 hour ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Bro it’s tough I’m just not a fan of wasting bench spot for a 10 who might not play …

Gordon Donaldson Ikitau Joseph Jorgs Potter Wright start

Bench Tate Hunter Daugunu

Go balls to the wall and if Donaldson gets injured Wrights ya man at 10!!

11 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 1 hour ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

What a day of rugby upcoming. First up Bil’s and Brumbies then a smorgasbord of u20 championship all of them interesting in different ways. Cold as a witch’s tit in Cape Town so I’ve taken the day off - late breakfast with a glass or two of Villeira MCC Then 12 noon Lions and by that time it’s big log fire and a bottle of my Shiraz. So fair warning. I’ll try to contain myself. Oh and somewhere in between have to catch some Wimbledon action.

24 Go to comments
N
NH 1 hour ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

I think its a good option Ally and one thing Schmidt seems to like to do is balance his impact across the 23. Last year, he regularly left guys like Bell, BPA, Tupou and Lukhan on the bench I think to make sure that there was a spread of impact for the full 80. So, we could see guys like skelton and bell purposefully left on the bench to soften the blow of an allan coming off for example.

11 Go to comments
N
NH 1 hour ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

I think its more likely we would see white and donno than tate and lynagh tbh. Remember donno has played with gordon at the tahs also.

11 Go to comments
N
NH 1 hour ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Couldn’t agree more. Despite all his critics, the fact is depth is thin at 10 and I’d argue the drop from Noah to next best is almost as large as any spot in the wallabies squad short of maybe AAA at 3. Guys like Bobby and Ikitau are indispensable and top shelf, but even still we know wilson/gleeson can do a job as could paisami/daugunu at centre. I really do hope Joe considers brining in JOC as he at least has played with a number of the wbs in the recent past and could slot between tate and hunter quite seamlessly for eg (not that I think that will happen). The only hope I have is that Joe’s plug and play systems work and its a case of ‘next in line’ and donno/lynagh can do a job. Chances of a wallabies win have gone from thin to wafer….

11 Go to comments
B
BA 1 hour ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

I think if he is fit?? U start Lynagh with Tate for familiarity and maybe get Hunter in play Ikitau at 13 put Joseph at 14 ( big risk ) Wright at 15, Jorg 11,Tate will really need to step up and they should continue mix up kicking with Ikitau left foot and Wrights right take some of the heat off young fella,on the bench Jake Donaldson and Daugunu but with Joseph on wing you could have another winger like Toole with real speed bench impact instead as Joseph covers midfield .

11 Go to comments
A
AllyOz 1 hour ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Would it be possible to use Skelton as a replacement and bracket him with Seru Uru (or Tom Hooper) as a replacement 6. This would allow you to replace either Wilson or Valetini at the 50- 60 minute mark? That would cover the potential loss of a lineout jumper. But does the coach want to use Skelton from the start, in which case, he might start Valetini at 8 with one of those others and use Wilson as his 6/8 replacement forward?

11 Go to comments
A
AllyOz 1 hour ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

It is a fair call but he is only 29. I thought his best years could still be ahead of him?? But it is hard to know. I have personally ruptured an achilles tendon while playing in my early thirties. It is a tough injury to overcome. I don’t mean to compare myself to Taniela - the gap in ability is even more enormous than his calves.

24 Go to comments
B
BA 2 hours ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

Yea he might flourish …think Big Ben T on Aotearoa rugby pod said basically that he struggled with what was required of him by rugby downunder in terms of getting round the field same story for Skelton I think same story for Antonio and even Jordan Mailata snd there are others does maybe indicate that teans these ways don’t know how to get best out of the big boys and to much square peg round hole they have to be like this where maybe over in France they play them to their strengths ? could be best thing for his career let him find his game and bring it home for a 27 WC

24 Go to comments
B
BA 2 hours ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

What was up with that?…had bad vibes around it for me

24 Go to comments
B
BA 2 hours ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

The Aussie Super games to be played later this year will be a big step forward in keeping pathways players development innovation in positional selections Athletes are still here in these parts of the world visited by Cook in abundance you just need places for them to go it’s a good first step I reckon

24 Go to comments
B
Brett McKay 2 hours ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

..I think the more experience and game management they can squeeze onto the park the better with the stocks of guys like kellaway, white and even a hunter rising with that injury.

This is a really good point NH, and I could easily have beefed up my ‘what now’ and ‘..how much does this forced change of personnel change the approach?’ questions.


There were only a handful of players Schmidt really couldn’t afford to lose, and I do think Lolesio was among them because he was clearly the one the coach had backed to provide the direction for the side.


Now that he’ll miss the series, I really do think it’s a significant dent to pre-existing plans..

11 Go to comments
N
NH 2 hours ago
Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Nice one Brett. I think you can potentially hit 2 brids with one stone as it were with a couple of your conundrums. Having skelton off the bench with hooper/uru would reduce your balance issue, help finish the back end of games strong, and let Wilson captain. And with Noah out (bloke can’t catch a break), I think the more experience and game management they can squeeze onto the park the better with the stocks of guys like kellaway, white and even a hunter rising with that injury. I, for one, liked the varied kicking the WBs employed vs fiji and it be all the more important for each of the likes of wright, the 9, ikitau to help donno/lynagh in this aspect with kicking/game mgmt which is a clear weakness in aus rugby at the moment relative to the lions.

11 Go to comments
S
Space-laika 2 hours ago
All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

Nick, great article. Tupou hasn't looked fit all year. On offense I noticed him tracking the ball but always being a phase or 10m behind so ending up being last at a ruck (and not needed) or running a lazy inside line that clearly wasn't on.


With a shot Tupou, no Skelton and Valetini, no Noah, and more injuries to come (just statistically) it is hard to see the Wallabies winning a game realistically. I'd love to be wrong.


These problems shine a light on RA’s lack of strategy over the years. How many players have they lost to Europe (before and after they become Wallabies)? Why do all the young 10s stall out at the same phase of development? Why all the stop-start with the veteran 10s? Why are there no project players (not just international recruits but also younger Aussies with potential) being clearly groomed for international roles? Why are there no promising back-rowers being moved to hooker around the u20 level?


I have been reading and enjoying your columns for a decade but it is not clear if anyone at RA has spent 20 minutes reviewing the basics.


Just disappointing and frustrating all around

24 Go to comments
B
BA 3 hours ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

Play the different comps with no Champions cup breaking it up and at end of URC SA clubs joins with Super for its version of a Champions cup then every 4 the World Cup challenge ?or does the Top 14 need to be the showpiece finish for French rugby? I know that’s very simplistic and fraught with logistical problems but could work?

166 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Internal warning over Fiji issued as Scotland lose 2 players to injury Internal warning over Fiji issued as Scotland lose 2 players to injury
Search