George North: A look back at his career as he prepares to face Wales in his final match
George North: A look back at his career as he prepares to face Wales in his final match
George North will sign off from his professional rugby career on Saturday with one last bow, in the black and white of the Barbarians.
This time, after over a century of caps for Wales, he’ll be playing against his home country in what will be a very special moment for the 34-year-old.
Let’s have a look back at the career of one of Wales‘ greatest ever:
Scarlets (2011-2013): He started his career with a bang, scoring two tries on debut against Benetton at just 18 years old. He spent three seasons with the Welsh outfit, playing 45 matches and scoring 14 tries.
Northampton Saints (2013-2018): His first big move was to England, when he headed to the Midlands for a fee of over £200,000. He scored 12 tries in his opening season, including a hat-trick in the final league game of the campaign against Wasps, before bagging himself a brace in the Premiership semi-final. The week after, Saints would beat Saracens in the final at Twickenham. Although he would achieve no further league or cup success with the side, he remained a key player, securing the left wing position until his exit in 2018.
Ospreys (2018-2024): A return to Wales was next on the cards for the powerful back. Shifting to the right wing, North scored five tries in his opening two matches for the Swansea-based team, but struggled to make consistent appearances for the side over the next few years due to injury and international commitments.
Provence (2024-2026): Following the 2024 Six Nations, the 6’4″ winger decided to end his international career, and with that came a move to France. By this point in his career, he had already established himself as an outside centre, making up for his dwindling pace by focusing on his impressive power game. After missing the first half of the season due to injury, North returned with vigour, helping to guide his side to the Pro D2 semi-finals. The following season, he again struggled with injury before finally calling it a day on his professional career.
International
Wales (2010-2024): At just 18 years old, he became the joint-third youngest player to represent Wales when he took to the field to face South Africa on 13 November 2010, scoring two tries in the process. After becoming the youngest ever Wales try scorer, North went on to have a flourishing international career, winning 121 caps and scoring 47 tries, making him the second most prolific Welsh try scorer after the great Shane Williams. The now 34-year-old was a key part of one of Wales’ most successful periods, appearing in four World Cups and winning four Six Nations Championships. Alongside Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, North became one of the defining figures of a golden era for Welsh rugby.
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British and Irish Lions (2013-2017): He was somewhat unfortunate to have only made two Lions tours, after pulling up with injury ahead of the 2021 version in South Africa. His impact on the famous side will be forever remembered for the huge tackle he made on Israel Folau in the second Test in Melbourne in 2013, when he performed a ‘fireman’s lift’ while running with the ball in hand. He was expected to start in each Test again in 2017 when the Lions toured New Zealand, but was sent home early, after sadly rupturing his ACL.
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