Wales centre George North has announced he will retire from international rugby after the Six Nations on Saturday.
The home game against Italy will be his 121st and final Wales appearance.
North, 31, is Wales’ third most capped player in history behind only Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
He will continue playing club rugby having announced he will move from Ospreys to French side Provence for the 2024-25 season.
North is the latest Wales player to announce his retirement within the last year following Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny.
North had initially said he wanted to continue his international career despite his club move to France.
He stated in November 2023 he had no intention to quit Wales and gave no indication in February 2024 of this decision before his 50th Six Nations game against England.
However, Wales head coach Warren Gatland said he held “honest discussions” with North about how he could get through to a potential fifth World Cup.
North was not selected for the opening match against Scotland as he recovered from a knee injury, although he was fit for selection.
He returned to start against England and Ireland before being dropped for the defeat by France last weekend.
North has been recalled for this weekend’s final match of the campaign against Italy with Wales looking to avoid finishing bottom for the first time since 2003.
“I have decided that the game on Saturday will bring my international career to an end,” said North.
“After 14 years it feels like now is the right time to step away. I have loved and cherished every second in a Welsh shirt and been able to play alongside some fantastic team-mates.
“I am very lucky to have lived my dream. I’m excited for the next chapter. Thank you for all the support over the years.”
North in numbers
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Wales’ second highest try scorer (47)
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Wales’ third highest cap holder (121)
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Youngest Wales try scorer (v South Africa in 2010) aged 18 years and 214 days
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Youngest World Cup try scorer (v Namibia in 2011) aged 19 years and 166 days
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Youngest Wales player to win 50 caps, aged 23 and 138 days
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World’s youngest player to win 100 caps in February 202, aged 28 years and 320 days
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First Welshman to play in four World Cup quarter-finals
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Fifth Welshman to play 50 games in the Six Nations
North star
North will be considered a modern day Wales great in an international career that lasted more than 13 years and saw him win two Grand Slams, four Six Nations titles and appear in four World Cups, including two semi-finals. Only Shane Williams has scored more tries for Wales.
North made his international debut in November 2010 when he crossed twice against South Africa to become Wales’ youngest scorer.
The following year he played in the first of four World Cups, where he became the youngest try scorer in the tournament’s history
North also played a key part in the British & Irish Lions winning side against Australia in 2013.
He finished a stunning solo try to help win the first Test and scored in the deciding Third Test in Sydney, to secure the Lions’ first series win since 1997.
But he will also be remembered for the second Test in Melbourne in which he ran with the ball while carrying Wallaby full-back Israel Folau on his back.
North toured again with the Lions four years later in New Zealand but injury hampered his chances of Test selection while he was ruled out of the South Africa trip in 2021 because of a knee problem.
He spent most of his international career before being switched to centre by Wayne Pivac for the 2021 Six Nations tournament which he helped Wales win.
North, who played club rugby for Scarlets, Northampton Saints and Ospreys suffered a couple of difficult years after receiving a couple of high-profile concussion injuries.
