George North Bids Farewell in Final Game for Barbarians Against Wales
Retiring great George North will play his final professional match for the Barbarians against Wales at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. The 34-year-old, who announced his retirement plans in April, will make his debut for the Baa-Baas on Saturday, 27 June at 14:00 BST. North expressed his excitement, stating, "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 incredible." Over his illustrious career, North earned 121 caps for Wales, scoring 47 tries and contributing to four Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams. He also toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017, playing three Tests and scoring two tries. After stints with Scarlets, Northampton Saints, and Ospreys, North played the last two seasons with Provence, a French second-tier side. He will join the Barbarians squad next week after the team faces South Africa. The match against Wales will be a double-header, featuring the men's game at 14:00 BST followed by the women's game at 17:00 BST. Previously, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric received farewell honors against the Barbarians after the 2023 World Cup. This time, North will be among the standout players. Reflecting on his career, North remarked, "I have been privileged to enjoy the career I have had, and I have so many unforgettable memories from Wales and friendships to last a lifetime. To go out against my country, with some of my friends and teammates playing is so special." He added, "To also be able to play alongside some of the best and most exciting players in the world, and to enjoy that famous Barbarians spirit is something I couldn't turn down. I can't wait to link up with the boys next week and hopefully we can do something special." This Barbarians fixture serves as a warm-up for Wales' Nations Championship Tests against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa in July.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-19