George North retiring from test rugby after Wales plays Italy in Six Nations this weekend

Warren Gatland, the coach who picked George North for his first and last Wales games, first and last Lions games, and first and last Rugby World Cups, led tributes to the retiring center on Wednesday.

North announced he’s ending a 14-year test career on Saturday after the Six Nations wooden spoon decider against Italy at Principality Stadium, where he made a stunning test debut in November 2010.

Two tries against world champion South Africa made North, at 18, the youngest player in more than a century to score on his Wales debut. He’s gone on to 120 Wales caps, four Six Nations titles, two Lions tours, four World Cups and two semifinals.

“The way that he burst onto the scene. I can remember seeing him play and thinking we need to cap this kid,” Gatland said. “He’s been incredible as a rugby player, but I think the most important thing is how he’s contributed to the squad as a person over the years. How positive and encouraging he’s been within and around the group, things that people wouldn’t have seen in terms of what he’s organized off the field.

“George has been outstanding and a credit to himself. He and his family and friends can be very proud of everything he has achieved.”

North said he knows in his heart it’s the right time to go.

“It’s not the fairy tale answer or finish,” he said. “I didn’t make this decision lightly because of what it means to me to put on the Wales jersey. I hoped this day would never come. For me, it’s about going out on my terms. I will live my dream one more time on Saturday.”

He and Nick Tompkins were restored to the midfield on Wednesday after they were surprisingly dropped for the France game that Wales lost by a record 45-24 last weekend. Gatland wanted to give Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin a run with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind.

Wales needs a first win in the championship on Saturday to avoid finishing last for the first time in 21 years. Italy has received the wooden spoon for the last eight Six Nations but has beaten Scotland and drawn with France.

“I spoke to the squad this morning and said, ‘Let’s not be weird, and prepare the same,’” North said. “I’ve had my journey and loved it, and it’s time for those guys to have their journey and love it as much as I have.”

Gatland made three other changes. Captain Dafydd Jenkins has switched back to lock from the blindside flank, where Alex Mann returns. And tighthead prop Dillon Lewis is also back.

The reserves include Scarlets props Kemsley Mathias and uncapped Harri O’Connor. Together with hooker Evan Lloyd, who made an emergency test debut against France last weekend off the bench, the backup front row has a total of two caps.

But Gatland is rebuilding Wales for 2027 and North is the latest old-timer to retire.

He will be 32 next month, and Gatland has worried whether his mileage will still make him potent next year, let alone 2027. He was moved from the wing to center at the end of 2020 to make better use of his experience, skillset and size.

North is third on Wales’ all-time caps list. His 47 tries are second only to Shane Williams’ 58.

North played in four World Cups, helping Wales reach the semifinals in 2011 and 2019. His 2015 participation was threatened by four head injuries in five months but he made it. He remains the youngest World Cup try-scorer after his double against Namibia in 2011.

He also helped the British and Irish Lions win the 2013 series against Australia, scoring in the first and third tests. But he was injured early out of the 2017 tour of New Zealand, and injured before the 2021 tour of South Africa.

North hopes he will be remembered “as a test animal. Someone who left nothing out there.”

Former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton called him a “Once in a generation player,” and South Africa great Bryan Habana said North was “one of the best to ever do it.”

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Wales: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Alex Mann, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Dillon Lewis, Elliot Dee, Gareth Thomas. Reserves: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, Will Rowlands, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby