George North is leaving Northampton to return to Wales at the end of the season, even though the wingwould not be putting his international career on hold by being based in another country under a new rule that comes into force next season.
From next season players who join, or re-sign for, clubs outside Wales will not be considered for international rugby unless they have won at least 60 caps. North is on 76 and the 25-year-old’s decision is based more on managing his appearances after his past few seasons were disrupted by concussion and injuries. He will be available for all Wales’s matches and training camps, not just those in the official window.
North, who left the Scarlets for Northampton in 2013, will sign a national dual contract, although yet to be decided is the Welsh region for which he will play. He will be joined in Wales by his fellow Lion Ross Moriarty; the Gloucester flanker is poised to move to the Dragons to prolong his international career.
“It is fantastic that George is returning,” said the Wales head coach, Warren Gatland. “He is in his prime and will flourish on a national dual contract. It is great for the game in Wales and we will work with George in the coming months to determine which region has the best playing environment to suit him.”
North said he turned down an offer from Northampton to stay. “It was a tough decision,” he said. “Saints have developed me as a player and stuck by me through thick and thin so it was with a heavy heart that I decided to move on. They made me a compelling offer and I love playing for the club, but as a proud Welshman I felt the time was right to move back home.”
Northampton have signed the Wales outside-half Dan Biggar for next season. “We are disappointed to lose a player of George’s quality, but in the end the emotional pull of settling back in Wales outweighed his desire to remain in Northampton,” said the club’s director of rugby, Jim Mallinder.
