2024-25 Don Burgess International Scholarship Recipient: George Pritchard
George Pritchard transitioned from a lifelong soccer background to rugby in tenth grade, quickly discovering his athletic calling. Growing up in White Rock, British Columbia with a passion for sports instilled by his father's love of Liverpool FC, Pritchard had devoted himself to high-performance soccer from age four until his high school PE teacher's recommendation changed his trajectory.
"While I had always been passionate about sports, rugby wasn't something I was exposed to much growing up in North America," Pritchard explains. "That changed when my high school PE teacher, Mr. Jamison, recommended I try out for the team."
What immediately struck him was rugby's contrast to his previous sporting experiences. "My early experiences with rugby were defined by camaraderie and inclusiveness—qualities that stood out in contrast to my time in soccer," he reflects. "I appreciated how players of all sizes and body types had important roles."
His rugby journey has included Bayside Rugby Club, Vancouver Rugby Union, and the BC Bears, along with Rugby Canada's U18 training camps. A highlight was touring New Zealand with the BC Rugby Elite Sevens team, broadening his understanding of the game internationally.
Pritchard has demonstrated remarkable versatility across multiple positions, preferring the center as they allow him to "combine contact and skill while leveraging my athletic strengths in both attack and defense." His achievements include selection to represent Team BC every year since beginning the sport and attendance at the Rugby Canada U18 camp.
"Rugby has taught me the value of discipline, especially when it comes to training, recovery, and nutrition," he notes. "It has also shown me how crucial it is to support teammates and lead by example."
The relationships formed through rugby have created a support network spanning from Vancouver Island to Washington State. Balancing academics with athletics requires strong time management: "Stress often stems from a lack of preparation, so I focus on staying organized and maintaining a positive, forward-thinking mindset."
Currently at Western Washington University, Pritchard's immediate focus is contributing to team success, while his long-term dream remains representing Canada internationally. He sees clear parallels between rugby skills and his career aspirations in engineering.
Despite living away from home, Pritchard maintains community engagement, having volunteered with junior rugby programs during high school. He hopes to return during summers to coach at his home club.
"Watch as much rugby as possible and study how the pros play," he advises aspiring players. "Get involved with your local club and bring friends along—it's a lot more fun when you build that sense of community early on."
