Wales vs Italy

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024 | DYDD SADWRN 16 MAWRTH 2024
him in action in the back line drills and I
could immediately see he was quick, had
great feet and was a good distributor.
“I can remember thinking to myself, ‘I’m
in trouble, here comes the future, the
young guns are ready to take over’. He
was the Wales Jonah Lomu, if you like.
“We celebrated his first cap – two tries
at that age on your debut against the
Springboks was ridiculous – and I enjoyed
pairing up with him. It just meant that
I got all the high balls because he was
more than a foot taller than me!
“I was surprised when I heard the news
about his retirement because he has
been playing some good rugby. But there
comes that time when you know it is
right for you to quit on your own terms.
“He is going to miss playing for Wales, we all
still do, but he will have talked it through with
Becky, his wife, and the rest of his family. As
difficult a decision as it is to make, he will be
able to look back on an incredible career.
“Every kid in Wales dreams of playing for
their country just once. To do it for the
121st time this weekend is just incredible,
especially when you look at his 47 tries,
two Grand Slams, four Six Nations titles, a
win in South Africa, four World Cups and
two tours with the British & Irish Lions.
“His career has been groundbreaking
and will leave a rich legacy for those who
follow him. While his retirement is tinged
with sadness for so many, there is also
an air of relief for me that my Welsh try
record will stay intact for a while longer!
“I just hope his teammates can respond to
his example and produce a win against the
Italians to ensure they end their Six Nations
campaign on a high – and give George the
winning send-off he so richly deserves.
“He has achieved so much and should feel very
proud of what he has done in a Welsh jersey.”
North’s bombshell announcement
came almost a week on from another
emotional departure from Welsh rugby of
the Wales Women’s No 8 Sioned Harries.
Same story, same response, a heartful
round of applause from the media to
two great servants of the game.
Following in the footsteps of other recent
Welsh giants of the professional era –
Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin
Tipuric Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny
– North has become the latest to call
time on his stellar international career.
It wasn’t a decision he took lightly and was
made after taking advice from his world
champion, Olympic and Commonwealth
Games medal winning cyclist wife, Becky,
who retired from the track in 2017. P
GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2024 | WALES V ITALY | CYMRU V YR EIDAL
/WELSHRUGBYUNION 23