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North in 10 matches: The rugby life of a Welsh powerhouseImage source, Huw Evans AgencyImage caption, George North celebrates Wales’ 2021 Six Nations Triple Crown on his 100th appearance for his countryByGareth Rhys OwenBBC Sport WalesPublished26 minutes ago2 Comments
George North never eased his way into Test rugby – he crashed through the door.
A teenager with the frame of a forward and pace to burn, he looked ready-made from day one. Over the next decade and more, he would become one of Wales’ most recognisable figures: 121 caps, 47 tries, a star British and Irish Lion, a Grand Slam winner twice over.
Now heading towards retirement at French second-tier club Provence, these are 10 matches that chart his rise, his peak, and everything in between.
Image source, Huw Evans agencyNorth Wales-bred George North went straight from Scarlets’ academy into the limelight as a teenager
The first glimpse, and it was unmistakable. Two tries on debut against the Italian team then known as Benetton Treviso, aged just 18, and both carried the same hallmarks that would define his career – raw power, long-striding pace and the balance to stay on his feet through contact. Already tipping past 16 stone, he didn’t look like a teenager finding his way, more a player fully formed. There had been noise around him before kick-off. After this, expectation followed.
Image source, Huw Evans AgencyNot long after making his name for Scarlets, North scored twice on his Wales debut against South Africa
Two months later, the stage got bigger. On debut against the South Africa, North didn’t just cope, he imposed himself. The two tries will live longest, but the early exchanges mattered just as much: carrying hard into the heart of the Springboks defence and refusing to give ground. At 18 years and 214 days, he became Wales’ youngest try-scorer. The sense was clear, this wasn’t a one-off.
Image source, Getty ImagesGeorge North helped Wales reach the 2011 World Cup semi-finals in New Zealand
A first World Cup and already making history. His try against Namibia made North the youngest scorer in tournament history, underlining how quickly he had risen. Unlike many his age, he was trusted immediately, starting all but one game as Wales reached the semi-finals. For a 19-year-old, it was a statement of both confidence and impact.
Image source, Huw Evans AgencyDave North (L) entered the pitch to celebrate as his son George enjoyed the moment with his team-mates in Paris in 2013
Paris provided one of the more bizarre chapters. North forced his way over in the corner, squeezing every inch out of the space available. As team-mates celebrated, a pitch invader joined in, hugging, shouting, fully part of the moment. It later emerged it was his father, Dave. In a career full of big stages, this was a different kind of memory.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe sight of North running with Israel Folau on his shoulder was shared around the world
The image endures – North with Australia wing Israel Folau on his back, legs pumping, refusing to go down. It became shorthand for the series, but it was only part of his overall performance. North’s try in the first Test had everything: footwork, acceleration, power through contact, then the now-famous finger-wagging celebration he would later apologise for. At that point, there were few, if any, wings operating at his level.
Image source, Getty ImagesGeorge North (right) won a league and European Challenge Cup double in his first season at Northampton
A move to Northampton from Scarlets brought a new challenge and, quickly, success. The Premiership final against Saracens was tight, tense, settled late by Alex Waller’s try. North had played his part across the season, adding consistency to the explosiveness. Five seasons followed in England before a return to Wales with Ospreys.
Image source, Getty ImagesGeorge North suffered a series of concussions during his career
Not all defining moments came with a scoreboard attached. This match has come to represent a difficult period in North’s career, as he dealt with a series of blows to the head.
There had been a similar incident in a Wales shirt against England, and together they helped shift the conversation around player welfare. North would later candidly reflect on.
Image source, Huw Evans AgencyGeorge North’s try sealed a 10th successive win for Wales
Paris again, and everything on the line. Trailing 16-0 at half-time, the Grand Slam looked to be slipping. North shifted it. First, reacting fastest to a loose ball in the French in-goal area. Then, reading an interception and sprinting 50 metres to score. Wales completed a stunning comeback, secured the title and climbed to number one in the world.
Later that year, at the World Cup, they fell just short – beaten in the semi-finals, as they had been in 2011. North, part of both campaigns, knew exactly how narrow the margins were.
Image source, Huw Evans AgencyGeorge North departed his last Wales appearance on crutches after suffering an injury
By the end, North had moved into the centres, adapting his game as the miles added up. His final appearance came in defeat by Italy – not the finish his career deserved. But the numbers endure: 121 caps, 47 tries, second on Wales’ all-time list. Four Six Nations titles, two Grand Slams, a Lion.
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