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The Wales legend will play the final game of his glittering career against his home nation as he represents the Barbarians
George North will officially bring the curtain down on his glittering rugby career as he plays his last ever game – against Wales.
The legendary Welsh back announced his retirement from the sport in April, having not played for club side Provence since February, but will lace up his boots one last time at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon. However, after 121 appearances in a red jersey, Wales will be his opposition this time, having been called up to represent the Barbarians for the first time.
It will be a fitting way for North to bow out after a remarkable career saw him win four Six Nations titles and tour twice with the British & Irish Lions, while representing Scarlets, Northampton Saints, Ospreys and Provence at club level.
Ahead of taking his last dance at the home of English rugby, the 34-year-old admitted it was a dream come true to represent the Barbarians and he couldn’t turn the invitation down, particularly with the opposition being Wales.
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“It’s always been a dream of mine to play for the Barbarians so to be invited now, for a game at Twickenham, against Wales is just incredible,” he said.
“I have been so privileged to enjoy the career that I have had, and I have so many unforgettable memories from Wales and friendships to last a lifetime. So to go out against my country, with some of my friends and teammates playing is so special.”
Why George North quit rugby and what comes next
Despite being unlucky with injuries in recent times, North has admitted that he decided to walk away from rugby despite feeling he could still compete, wanting to leave the game on his terms rather than have his career “taken away”.
“I still feel good, I can still compete, but I’m starting to creak,” he told RugbyPass earlier this week. “Mentally I’m in a good spot. But I’m 34 now, I turned professional at 17 and I’ve been on the go ever since. With my young family, I’ve had enough time missing things that were important.”
After hanging up his boots, the Wales legend is set to spend more time with his wife – former Olympic cyclist Becky – and their two sons, Jac and Tomi.
Having relocated to France after signing for Provence in 2024, North revealed earlier this year that he and his young family had integrated themselves into French culture, surprising himself at how he had taken to a new way of life.
“My dad was in the RAF, he toured, we went with him, but I don’t remember any of it, I was still a pup,” he told former Wales international Richard Parks on his Beyond the Breakdown podcast,. “But my boys now, they’re speaking French.
“Over dinner the other night, Becky put the salad down on the table and my youngest, Tomi, who’s four, turns around and says, ‘Oh, mum, where’s the vinaigrette?’. I was like, ‘You are so French, child. We’ll get you back to Wales now.’ Me and Becks looked at each other like, “What is going on there?”.
“The French lifestyle, the family life especially, they prioritize that more than anything,” North added. “For me, Becks and the boys, it’s been incredible. We’ve met some amazing people with the club, some amazing people with the school and it’s been everything I thought it would and more.
“Some bits have been very different, some bits have been very cliche. I said I wouldn’t be the guy that would walk through the village to the boulangerie every day to get a baguette with the kids, but I am that guy!
“It’s an incredible part of the world. The club have been really good, some of the sponsors have become really good friends, we’ve gone to pick vines with some of the sponsors over Fuveau way, it has been incredible. It’s been amazing.”
While North has taken to the French way of life, he still has business interests back in Wales as co-owner of Baffle Haus cafe chain, which has locations in Pontypool and just outside Cardiff.
He is expected to put more time into his business interests, while he is also likely to be offered media work in the same way the likes of team-mates Sam Warburton, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Davies have.
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