Top 5 George North rugby moments as Wales Legend confirms retirement

North will end his career as one of the best to ever wear the heralded red jersey of his homeland, having won 121 caps and scored 47 tries for Wales. North won four Guinness Men's Six Nations titles with Wales, and is also well remembered for his time as a British & Irish Lion, upon the 2013 and 2017 tours of Australia and New Zealand. To mark the incoming retirement of a defining figure from the 2010s, we've decided to take a look back upon five of George North's most memorable moments from his career.

When George North stepped onto the international stage for the first time against the Springboks in November 2010, few could have predicted just how emphatic his arrival would be. At just 18 years old, the Scarlets winger was thrown into the cauldron at the Principality Stadium, one of rugby’s grandest arenas, and delivered a performance against South Africa far beyond his years.

Despite Wales falling to a narrow 29–25 defeat in Cardiff, North stole the headlines with two superbly taken tries. The first showcased his instinctive support lines, while the second highlighted his power and composure under pressure against one of the world’s most formidable defences.

More than just a bright debut, it was a statement of intent for a phenomenal Test career. In a single afternoon, North transformed from promising youngster to a star in the making, as he laid the foundation for a career that would define an era of Welsh rugby.

Few moments in George North’s career – or recent Lions tour history – are as unforgettable as the surreal collision with Israel Folau during the 2013 tour of Australia. In the second Test in Melbourne, North gathered the ball and charged into contact, only to be met by the Wallabies fullback, however, what followed defied belief in the land down under.

Refusing to go to ground, North somehow hoisted the 6ft 4in Folau onto his back and powered forward, carrying him several metres like a human battering ram. The image of Folau clinging on as North marched down the pitch defenders instantly became iconic, a display of raw Lions' grit that optimised the tour.

Although the Lions narrowly lost that Test, the moment transcended the result. It encapsulated the physicality, theatre and unpredictability of the series, which the Lions would ultimately win 2–1. The moment was re-visited countless times throughout last Summer's tour of Australia, in what cemented North’s reputation as a once-in-a-generation force of nature.

If the 2013 Lions tour confirmed George North as a global superstar, his breathtaking solo try in the first Test was the defining moment. Facing Australia national rugby union team in Brisbane, North produced a score that blended power, pace and instinct in devastating fashion.

Collecting a high ball deep inside his own half, the 21-year-old immediately sensed opportunity. What followed was a lung-busting 60-metre counterattack, as North burst through the first line of defence before brushing aside would-be Wallabies tacklers.

A sharp step took him beyond the cover, and once in space, there was no stopping him as he surged toward the corner. A point of celebration to defined the emotion of the score, in what was an action that North would later apologise to the scrum half for once the dust had settled.

The try flipped the momentum of the match, turning a 7-3 deficit into a 10-3 Lions lead and energised the men in red en route to a crucial 23–21 victory. In a series defined by the fine margins, it was a game-changing intervention from the flying Welshman. The finish showcased North at his destructive best out on the biggest stare, in a score that showcased why he was one of the era's most feared wingers.

While George North’s international exploits often stole the spotlight, his club career delivered defining moments too, none bigger than the 2014 Premiership triumph with Northampton Saints. Having arrived from the Scarlets, North made an immediate impact in the English top flight, bringing power and finishing ability to a Saints side on the rise.

The 2013–14 season proved historic, as North was a constant attacking threat which helped Saints secure a remarkable double, lifting both the Premiership and the Challenge Cup. In the league final, the Saints took on Saracens at Twickenham, for an all-time classic that ended in a dramatic 24–20 extra-time victory.

Spells with Ospreys and later Provence Rugby further showcased North's longevity across multiple leagues, but that debut season in Northampton remains his greatest accomplishment in the club game.

George North’s 2015 Six Nations hat-trick against Italy in Rome remains one of the most devastating attacking flourishes of his career, and a defining moment in his international legacy. Coming into the match under scrutiny after a relatively quiet campaign, North responded in the most emphatic way possible, producing a second-half explosion that tore the game apart and reminded everyone of his unique ability to change a match in a matter of seconds.

At half-time, Wales held only a narrow 14–13 lead over the Azzurri, with Italy competitive and physical in the opening exchanges, despite the expectation of a one-sided Welsh win. But within a 10-minute spell after the restart, North turned the contest on its head.

His first try came out wide, finishing sharply in the corner after exploiting space with trademark acceleration. The second saw him link brilliantly with Jonathan Davies, powering through defensive gaps with his combination of strength and footwork. His third was perhaps the most complete, jinking inside defenders before crashing over under the posts. By the end, Wales were runaway 61–20 winners, with North becoming the first Welshman ever to score a Six Nations hat-trick.

In Paris, George North delivered one of the defining Six Nations comebacks of the modern era as Wales overturned a 16–0 half-time deficit to defeat France 24–19 in the 2019 Championship opener. With Wales staring down a potential opening defeat at the Stade de France, North produced two decisive second-half tries that flipped the momentum entirely.

The first came from pure instinct, pouncing on a loose ball after a French handling error by Yoann Huget to give Wales life. His second was even more iconic: reading a loose Sebastien Vahaamahina pass, North intercepted on halfway and sprinted clear to complete a stunning turnaround score.

The victory marked Wales’ 10th consecutive win under Warren Gatland and set the tone for a Grand Slam-winning campaign. Beyond the scoreboard, it reinforced North’s enduring reputation as a player for the biggest moments, capable of rewriting matches under immense pressure.

Having consistently scored in every Six Nations Championship from 2012 onward, this performance further epitomised his legacy as a performer who thrived when games were at their most chaotic, decisive, and demanding, and who repeatedly delivered when Wales needed him most.