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George North has vowed to return even bigger and better next season after admitting he needs a complete break from rugby this summer.

The wonder wing has suffered a punishing schedule with 41 matches in the last 13 months including three Lions Tests, two major finals with Northampton, a Six Nations campaign and Wales’ most recent two Test series in South Africa.

North was below-par against the Springboks last month after suffering an illness which threatened his participation in the first Test in Durban.

It’s sometimes hard to forget North, who burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old against South Africa in November 2010, is still only 22 despite having already played 45 Test matches and scored 20 international tries.

“I haven’t really stopped for two years with the Lions series and I need the break,” North told Rugby World.

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“I have five weeks to myself and I plan to do what I want, when I want.

“If you can’t switch off, you can’t switch on and I need to get away from rugby.

“I want to improve myself and I have not made as much of an impact as I would have wanted at Northampton.

“I’ve still got lots to learn.

“My mindset is, if my pass is good, it could be better and the same goes for my offloading and positional play, it could all be better.

“When we played Bath in the Amlin Challenge Cup, George Ford kicked very well to the corners, so improving my positioning will help.

“As for personal targets, my aim is to be physically bigger and stronger next season.

“You have to keep evolving.”

North on his relationship with cyclist Becky James

(Image: Twitter/@BecksJames)

North, whose girlfriend is world champion cyclist Becky James, has admitted he also needs to develop his life outside of rugby.

“Managing my life off the field is a work in progress,” said North.

“I love rugby and I don’t know a man who plays at this level who doesn’t.

“I am fortunate for everything that comes with it, but sometimes it’s overwhelming.

“I’m trying to make myself a better man on the pitch and recognise my limits and dealing better with when to say no.

“I have great sponsors and people around me but there’s a danger if you say yes to every invitation that you spread yourself too thin.

“I always try to sign autographs and you want to sign everything but there’s a limit to what you can do.

“I work closely with Andy McCann, the Welsh sports psychologist and we talk once or twice a week.

“He was there for my first cap and will probably be there for my last.

“I look up to him and admire him. Still, I am sure he goes home and shouts at his dog because of all the stuff we throw at him!”

Watch: George North aims to relax this summer

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North has urged Wales to use the hurt of their devastating last-gasp second Test defeat to South Africa as inspiration to conquering one of the three southern hemisphere superpowers in Cardiff this autumn.

Wales suffered heartbreak in Nelspruit last month with a 31-30 defeat against the Springboks after Warren Gatland’s men surrendered the lead they had held for 77 minutes by conceding a late penalty try.

It continued Gatland’s poor record against the All Blacks, the Springboks and the Wallabies who all visit the Millennium Stadium in the autumn series in November.

It is here where North believes Wales must gain redemption.

“We were devastated after the second Test,” said North.

“It was such a difficult defeat to take because we were dominant for so much of the game.

“If we can take a positive it showed we can go toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best sides.

“It was probably the best we played this year.

“We have to believe we can kick on from that loss in the same way Ireland did after their last minute loss to the All Blacks.

“Hopefully being at home with the fans behind us will give us the edge needed when New Zealand, Australia and South Africa come to the Millennium Stadium in November.”

Coping with series defeat in South Africa

North admitted he still struggles to cope with defeat.

“I’m not a very nice person if we lose,” he added.

“It takes me a day to get back to being myself.

“I will go through step by step where I’ve gone right and make it right in my head.

“I have to process it but you can’t dwell for too long.”

But North believes the South Africa tour was successful in developing young talent and answering the criticism that Wales are too predictable.

“This summer Gats has blooded players like Samson Lee, Gareth Davies and Matthew Morgan and it’s given us strength in depth,” said North.

“We’ve had a settled side for a while and we need younger players coming through.

“People were saying in the Six Nations that we were predictable but that’s complete crap.

“That said, having more varied options in the squad can only improve us.

“The South Africa tour was the time to give new players some Test experience.

“That extra bit of strength in depth bodes well for the World Cup which ultimately is when you want to peak.”

Will North ever return to Wales?

Before the World Cup, North will hope he can help Northampton emulate their double delight of last season when they won the Amlin Challenge Cup and Aviva Premiership title which was clinched in front of a sellout crowd at Twickenham.

“To play in front of 82,000 at the Premiership final was fantastic and the crowd was electric,” said North.

“For Saints supporters, much like Welsh fans, rugby is the be all and end all.

“It was well documented at the time that I wasn’t a fan of what was going on in Wales and I had options.

“I chose Northampton because of their history of building squads and their standing as a family club. Their culture appealed to me.

“One of the reasons I moved was to win silverware at domestic level and that’s what you remember at end of your career.

“No player turns up just to play, they want to win.

“So it’s one of the best seasons of my life.

“It was a great way to finish the season and justified why I moved.

“It was a risk to move and fortunately it paid off.”

And regional rugby fans should not expect North to return to ply his domestic trade in Wales any time soon after joining Northampton from the Scarlets.

“I’m often asked whether I would come back to Wales,” he added.

“But looking at the current state of things, compared to the stability and environment I have at Northampton, I’d have to ask why would I?”

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