George North: Wales centre not ready to follow fab four into Test retirement
- Published
George North took his tally to 47 Test tries for Wales during the World Cup
George North insists he has no plans to follow Wales' fab four into Test retirement.
The centre starts against Barbarians in Cardiff on Saturday as Welsh rugby bids farewell to greats Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny.
Dan Biggar also retired from international rugby following the World Cup quarter-final exit last month.
"I was really happy with my form in the World Cup and I'm still competing for the jersey," said 31-year-old North.
"I still want to play and fight for my place. For me it's still a big driver and if the boss [Warren Gatland] keeps picking me then I want to carry on."
North became the youngest player to score on his Wales debut in 2010 and 13 years later is now Wales' third most-capped player, the veteran of 118 Tests for his country and three for the British and Irish Lions.
North has claimed 47 tries for Wales, with only Shane Williams' record mark of 58 ahead of him, while in France he became the first Welshman to appear in four World Cup quarter-finals.
'What great servants for Wales' - North
World Cup 'hurt'
However, North admitted that quarter-final loss to Argentina in Marseille still hurts.
"Coming back home after that loss was tough to take," he said.
"There was frustration and disappointment when you look at how we built up during the pool stage but we didn't show the best of us in the quarter-final.
"We left too many points out there for knock-out rugby. For us older boys it hurts now but you know it will ache for a fair while."
North's vast experience stands out in a Wales squad to face Barbarians that includes 10 players in single figures for caps, including uncapped tight-head props Lloyd Fairbrother and Harri O'Connor.
However, the Osprey believes this game offers a chance to begin preparations for the 2024 Six Nations.
"Losing such big characters was always going to happen and evolution needs to happen as we look to the Six Nations," North said.
"The ethos and honour of the Barbarians is about bringing together the best players to bring special rugby.
"But to face that quality is a real challenge and it's a great chance for some of our younger player.
"We want to play with confidence because of the nature of the game, but we also have one eye on the structure we want to build for the Six Nations."