From the Sea to the Pitch: George Kinnaird’s Relentless Drive

At North Star, we’re proud to see our cadets go above and beyond, both at sea and in their personal pursuits. Few embody this spirit more than George Kinnaird, who recently represented Scotland in the Student Four Nations Rugby League as Vice-Captain of the squad. His story is one of resilience, determination, and humility; qualities that make him not just a credit to Scotland, but to North Star.

George’s journey has been anything but straightforward. He started playing rugby at 16, later than most, and admits he wasn’t a natural. “I wasn’t very good in the beginning,” he laughs, “but as much as you put into it, you can get out of it. Teamwork and hard work matter more than natural talent.” That philosophy became the backbone of his career both on the pitch and at sea.

After years of semi-pro rugby, George began working in the merchant navy through a cadetship. Life on board didn’t make training easy, but he found a way. “I’d get an hour for food, so I’d plate it up and put it aside for later. That became my cardio window. I asked if it was possible for a multi-gym on board so I would do light weights at sea for safety, then heavy training when I was home. Whatever your situation is, you do what’s required to get where you need to be.”

That determination is deeply personal. George’s father, a proud Scot, passed away just before he began his cadetship - but not before watching him represent Scotland once. “They told me I wasn’t good enough. Scotland rejected me four times. But I wanted to honour my dad and my Scottish roots, so I kept going. I turned myself into an athlete. Rejection became motivation.”

Eight years later, George pulled on the Scotland jersey once again. He still can’t quite believe it. “It didn’t feel real, and it still hasn’t sunk in. Scoring my first try against Ireland, then getting man of the match against England - it was like a dream, exactly how I would have written it. I prefer having to work hard for things because they mean more when you finally achieve them.”

His colleagues back at North Star were quick to get behind him. “They’ve been watching matches, giving me stick too! As I’d expect from mates,” George jokes. “But they’ve been so supportive. They’ve seen the hard work and told me I deserve it.”

Behind the scenes, North Star also played an important role in George’s success, granting him a month of paid leave to compete. “I sacrificed a lot for the sport and it put a huge amount of pressure on me financially. North Star supported me by granting me paid leave. The mental relief of not having to worry about the financial burden allowed me to focus and perform at my best. I don’t know if I could have done it without this support from North Star.”

George’s approach to rugby and seafaring are the same: resilience, focus, and a refusal to give up. “Everything in my life has taught me that hard work gets you where you want to be. It took me six years to achieve chief mate and eight years to break into the Scottish rugby team. Both journeys were long, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The lessons from rugby have made me better at sea, and the lessons at sea have made me stronger in rugby.”

When asked what advice he would give to other seafarers chasing a dream, George is quick to encourage: “You have to give it a go, you won’t know unless you try. If I can do both, anyone can. And not just do both but succeed at both. For anyone who thinks the sea is a barrier, it isn’t. Work hard first, ask for help if you need it, and the opportunities will come.”

With his next tour on the Putford Aries this September and with a place secured in Scotland’s international training squad, George shows no signs of slowing down. His ambition even extends to moving onto North Star’s SOV fleet, “the gym facilities are brilliant on those vessels,” he admits with a grin.

At North Star, we couldn’t be prouder to have George as part of our team. His humility, grit and determination are qualities we value highly and his story is a reminder that with enough focus and perseverance, even the roughest seas can be navigated.