George North

George North has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on one of the most decorated and enduring careers in the modern game.

“Change” is the mantra of Keir Starmer and the Labour Party and it might equally be the slogan adopted by Warren Gatland this summer. Only, it’s not 14 years of Conservative government the Wales coach is trying to overhaul, but 14 Tests over the past 10 months.

Taulupe Faletau is poised to return from injury for Cardiff this weekend – providing a huge boost to Wales’ hopes of picking themselves up off the floor this summer. The peerless Lions No.8 has not played since breaking his arm at the World Cup six months ago.

Toby Booth believes he can sharpen the Ospreys’ cutting edge next season with the help of new signing Phil Cokanasiga. The younger brother of England wing Joe Cokanasiga, 22-year-old Phil is leaving Leicester Tigers to move to the Swansea region.

George North has urged Wales fans to keep the faith and believes victories are on the horizon – even though next up are South Africa and Australia. The retiring Wales wing delivered a message of hope for Welsh rugby as he departed the international game on crutches after Wales’ wooden spoon nightmare became reality.

Aaron Wainwright insists nothing but victory will be acceptable for Wales in Saturday’s wooden spoon decider against Italy. Wales must win in Cardiff to have any chance of not finishing bottom of the Guinness Six Nations table for a first time since 2003.

Josh Adams is used to silverware not stirring utensils, but times have changed from his carefree entry into Test rugby six years ago. The Wales wing won a Grand Slam in 2019, another Six Nations title in 2021, was a Lions tourist that same year, and finished the top tryscorer at the 2019 World Cup.

George North intends to go out the way he came in – with the focus on what he brings to the match, rather than his own status. Way back in 2010, as a raw 18-year-old, two tries on his international debut almost inspired Wales to an unlikely victory over then world champions South Africa in Cardiff, in match eventually lost 29-25.

Wales centre George North has announced that he will retire from international rugby after Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Italy. The 31-year-old, who has won 120 caps, has been recalled to the Wales team for what is a wooden-spoon decider. It’s another unexpected twist in what has been an eventful tournament for Wales, who have failed to win a game and struggled to overcome previous retirement decisions made both before and after last year’s World Cup.

George North and Nick Tompkins have both been recalled to the Wales team for Saturday’s Six Nations wooden-spoon decider against Italy. The pair – who were controversially dropped for the record 45-24 home thrashing by France in the previous round – replace Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin. Head coach Warren Gatland had said he wanted to provide an opportunity to Roberts, but with Wales in danger of finshing bottom of the tournament table for the first time in 21 years, it apears the short period of experimentation is already over.

Joe Roberts believes Wales will avoid the embarrassment of a Six Nations whitewash this weekend by winning at the final attempt. The centre, who was controversially picked ahead of George North to face France last weekend, is confident Warren Gatland’s misfiring team can beat Italy in Cardiff in the final round of the tournament.

Warren Gatland has admitted Wales are desperate for a win to put some meat on the bones of their claims they are a young team who are progressing. Gatland has underlined Wales’ desire to end their losing Six Nations run this season and claim what would be a statement victory over France on Sunday.