North to bid farewell for Barbarians against Wales

Wales rugby legend George North is set to hang up his boots by playing for the invitational Barbarians side against his national team. The match will take place on June 1 at Twickenham as part of a double-header, with the men's game at 14:00 BST followed by the women's game at 17:00 BST. Before that, the Barbarians will play South Africa on Saturday, and North will join the squad in London next week.

This marks the second time Wales men face the Barbarians after a World Cup – following the 2023 tournament, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric were honoured with a farewell match at the Principality Stadium. North, one of the most celebrated Welsh players, will be the headline act this time.

"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," said North. "So to go out against my country, with some of my friends and teammates playing is so special. 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."

The Barbarians fixture serves as a warm-up for Wales' Nations Championship Tests in July against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.