North reflects on living Wales ‘dream’ as he calls time on international rugby
star George North fought back tears as he reflected on an international career that saw him “live a dream”.
The 31-year-old has announced that he will retire from Test rugby after Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy in Cardiff.
He made his Wales debut as a teenager in 2010, touching down twice against South Africa, and has scored 47 tries for his country – a figure bettered only by Shane Williams.
North is third on Wales’ all-time cap list with 120
Test appearances behind Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins, while he played in four Rugby World Cups and helped Wales win four Six Nations titles – including two Grand Slams.
He also toured Australia with the 2013 British and Irish Lions, which included him scoring a brilliant solo try in the first Test and then famously picking up and carrying Wallabies wing Israel Folau during the second game, and New Zealand four years later.
“It has not been an easy decision for me at all,” an emotional North said at Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan, pausing to regather himself on several occasions during a 20-minute press conference.
“It is the best thing for me and my family and the sacrifice everyone has to make.
“I didn’t think this day would come – I wished this day would never come – but for me it is about being able to go out on my terms and being able to enjoy it like I have for every second of the last 14 years.
“I am going to use this week and Saturday to really take it all in and to live my dream again one more time. “For me, it has always been about me being the best I can be for Wales and being the best I can be with the Three Feathers on my chest. I have loved every second of it and cherished every second of it – the highs and the lows. I couldn’t have written it better myself, to be honest. I have been very fortunate to live a dream not many people get to do.”
North, who played the majority of his time with Wales as a wing before movwales
ing to centre and will join French club Provence next season, addressed his national squad colleagues yesterday. And he underlined how he wants it to be business as usual when Wales strive for a first victory of this season’s Six Nations against Italy.
“I said (to the squad), let’s not get weird. This week is the
same and the preparation is the same,” he added.
“I asked them for nothing to change from what we always do. For us, it is a must-win game and the focus should never be on one individual.”
North, who was omitted from the Wales starting lineup beaten 45-24 by France last weekend, replaces Joe Roberts
against Italy on what is now his Wales farewell, with fellow centre Nick Tompkins returning instead of Owen Watkin.
Two other changes are in the pack, where prop Dillon Lewis is preferred to Keiron Assiratti and Alex Mann packs down alongside back-row colleagues Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright.