Darts, box sets and scare cams: George North’s guide to rugby tours

As the British and Irish Lions face off against the All Blacks, Welsh winger George North talks to Telegraph Men about how to survive life on tour with a rugby squad

Stick to your best pub sport

In the Welsh camp we have a pool table and some dart boards and they get hammered whenever we go away. The boys will play ‘round the board’ or ‘golf’ on the dartboard and then they get into the pool competitions so it all gets fair use. Toby Faletau and Justin Tipuric love a game of darts against each other. Dan Biggar is meant to be the dark horse on the pool table. But I never play pool because I don’t want to get seven-balled.

Don’t forget to download a box set

Whenever I go away I take my laptop with a hard drive full of films and TV series. Me and Becky (James, the GB track cyclist and North’s girlfriend) have just finished Suits so I am looking to start another one soon. Billions is meant to be very good.

Choose the right posse

When we go on tour with Wales you get a few different groups that form. There are some boys who like a bit of PlayStation. Other boys prefer a coffee and some cards.

I have become a coffee snob myself so I like a bit of the coffee and cards scene.

Always pack an extra-long charger

We are quite lucky because when we go on tour everything is taken care for us so we don’t have to do much. But I always pack a super-long charging cable. Everybody knows that hotels put the plugs as far away from the beds as possible so you don’t use them. Little things like that make touring much easier.

Leave the music to the pros

I am not known for my musical taste apparently, but I just listen to whatever is on my phone. I keep it on shuffle. When we are away with Wales, Gethin Jenkins takes it very seriously and so do people like Liam Williams and Scott Williams. Those guys take control and I don’t tend to argue because the general consensus is that they do quite a good job.

Arm yourself with pointless facts

I don’t play video games on my phone because once you get addicted… oh my days, it is bad isn’t it? I have a couple on my iPad, just simple games, but I have got an app that gives you a little interesting daily fact. I like to think it keeps me mentally stimulated.

Watch out for the snorers

I am quite lucky with the Wales squad because I always room with Scott Williams and I have never had a bad roommate. I have had a couple of snorers though, which you need to watch out for.

Don’t forget your favourite sweets

If I want a treat after a game when I am away I will just find some sweets or chocolate but I might pack a bag of Maoam with me. Usually before a game I tend to go for scrambled egg on toast with some avocado, as well as some porridge to get some energy inside me. On the night before a game I tend to have spaghetti Bolognese, cooked using my mum’s recipe which is beautiful, so it’s never quite the same when I’m away.

Be a tourist for the day

When we are on tour we normally get an afternoon off to have a stroll around a new place and experience some local sights and sounds. It is a very good part of touring because you get to see different parts of the world and see how different people do different things.

Get stuck into the practical jokes

Whenever we meet up with Wales these days, Gareth Davies and Liam Williams are doing a ‘Scare Cam’. I’m sure you have seen it on social media but they just jump out and scare people. I have tried to participate as well but I always giggle too much when I am about to jump out so I ruin it.

Maximuscle athlete George North was speaking following the launch of Maximuscle’s new product range, helping you to get in peak shape for the summer. Visit www.maxinutrition.com/ibiza/