North’s Euro vision dashed

GEORGE NORTH will be playing in Europe’s second tier next season after his new team the Ospreys missed out on Champions Cup qualification.

The Wales and British & Irish Lions wing switches from Northampton to the Welsh region this summer, but will have to be content with Challenge Cup rugby when he arrives at the Liberty Stadium.

Needing victory in their play-off clash to seal a place in the Champions Cup for the 2018-19 campaign, the Ospreys never came close as they were beaten comfortably by Ulster in Belfast.

Even with Lions Rory Best and Iain Henderson injured and former All Black Charles Piutau pulling out in the warm-up, Ulster were too good.

Wing Craig Gilroy scored in either half and Kieran Treadwell and Jacob Stockdale also crossed after the break as home scrum-half John Cooney ended the game with 15 points.

Ospreys scored through Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones, Jeff Hassler and Dan Biggar, on his last appearance before joining Northampton.

But it was not enough and another defeat compounded a nightmare season for the Swansea-based side.