George North: Magical moments of Wales legend as he bows out of international rugby

George North is Wales' third most-capped player behind Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins

Wales legend George North will bow out of the international game this weekend when he lines up against Italy in Cardiff.

North has announced he will quit Test rugby after this year's Six Nations tournament.

His career has seen him help Wales win four Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and play in four World Cups, with two semi-final appearances.

North, 31, is Wales' third most-capped player behind Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

North will run out to make his 121st and final Wales appearance on Saturday with Warren Gatland's side hoping they can mark the occasion by claiming victory and avoiding a first Wooden Spoon in 21 years.

BBC Sport charts 10 memorable moments in North's international career with Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

• Emotional North reflects on glittering career ahead of Italy finale

• Gatland 'understands' North's decision to retire

Dream debut

George North scored twice on his Test debut against South Africa

North announced himself on the international stage in spectacular style in November 2010, when he lined up against world champions South Africa and their star wing Bryan Habana.

Aged just 18 years and 214 days, North scored twice. He remains the youngest Welsh try scorer on debut.

South Africa won 29-25, but a star was born.

World Cup record

George North and Sam Warburton both played in their first World Cup in 2011 in New Zealand

Aged 19 years and 166 days, North became the World Cup's youngest try scorer in 2011 in New Zealand when he crossed for two tries against Namibia.

Gatland's side had narrowly lost to South Africa in the opening game before defeating Samoa.

New Plymouth was the venue for Wales' third pool match, where North made his small piece of World Cup history.

Wales hammered Fiji before defeating Ireland in the quarter-finals but Sam Warburton's red card and semi-final disappointment followed against France.

It was one of four World Cups North played in, and he is the only Welshman to play in four quarter-finals.

Dublin date

George North scored one of three tries in the 2012 away victory against Ireland, which remains Wales' last Six Nations win in Dublin

This was perhaps his greatest performance in a Wales jersey. North was virtually unplayable and at the peak of his significant powers.

Ireland were beaten 23-21 at the Aviva Stadium thanks to two moments of second-half North magic.

A tap-down from Justin Tipuric at the tail of a line-out saw North launch off his wing, evade two tacklers and deliver a wonderful offload out of the back of his hand which sent Jonathan Davies in for his second try.

North then took four Irish players over the line with him in the 76th minute to claim a third Welsh try, before Leigh Halfpenny slotted over the winning kick.

Wales would go on to win the 2012 Grand Slam.

Father's Day

George North's father Dave ran on to the pitch in Paris to celebrate his son's try against France in 2013

Who could forget the sight of George's dad, Dave, running on to the pitch at Stade de France in 2013?

He was attempting to congratulate his son on scoring in the corner to help end an eight-match losing streak and spark a march to another Six Nations title.

North did not even notice his dad, but the authorities did and he was escorted off the pitch.

Just to prove you cannot stop a North in Paris, Dave North quickly got back to his seat to rejoin his family.

Roaring Lion

George North scored three tries in three Tests on the 2013 Lions tour of Australia

North took his game to another level on the 2013 British and Irish Lions of Australia. There was the brilliant individual try on his Lions Test debut in Brisbane, which began when he fielded a kick ahead on his 10-metre line.

He slalomed and side-stepped his way to the left corner, leaving four Wallabies trailing in his wake and pointing at Will Genia as he crossed the line, an act he apologised for after the game.

North's 60-metre special helped earn a vital 23-21 victory for the tourists before his strength and power were demonstrated in Melbourne in the second Test defeat.

North had possession when he was challenged by Israel Folau. He memorably lifted the Wallaby wing off the ground and on to his back and carried him for five metres.

It is one of the most-viewed rugby clips on YouTube.

With the 2013 series in Australia all square, it came down to the decider in Sydney.

The Wallabies reduced the deficit to three points at the start of the second half before North scored in the corner to help set up a 41-16 triumph.

Hat-trick hero

George North has scored 11 tries against Italy in 12 games

Wales went to Rome for the final game of the 2015 tournament with a chance of winning the Six Nations title, although it was Ireland who were eventually crowned champions.

North had not scored for four games and the Italians felt the full force of frustration as he scored three tries in 10 minutes in the second half with Wales winning 61-20 in the sunshine of the Italian capital.

It was the first Six Nations hat-trick by a Wales player.

Fighting back

George North set Welsh records of metres gained, clean breaks and defenders beaten in the 2016 Six Nations campaign

North has scored many fine tries for Wales but perhaps the most emotion he has displayed was after he he crossed for a superb solo effort in the 27-23 win against Scotland in Cardiff during the 2016 the Six Nations.

North had experienced a barren 2015 World Cup and endured a tough start to the domestic season with his club Northampton.

He was also dealing with the pressures of concussion injuries he had suffered and the publicity surrounding that.

So when North made a scything run through Scotland's defence, cutting a devastating angle to beat five men and race in from 40 yards, the emotions came pouring out in his wild celebrations. It is safe to say he enjoyed that one.

More Parisian success

George North scored two out of Wales' three tries in the 2019 victory against France

In 2019, Warren Gatland said that if Wales won the opening match against France in Paris, he believed they would go on to win the Grand Slam.

It did not look like that would happen when the French took a 16-0 half-time lead.

That was before North helped inspire the biggest Six Nations comeback with two second-half tries which were at the heart of a magnificent revival.

This created the pathway to his second Grand Slam, which was completed in Cardiff against Ireland when North and captain Alun Wyn Jones memorably embraced.

Centre stage

George North spent the last three years of his international career as a specialist centre

North spent most of his career as a destructive wing but was moved permanently into the centre by Wayne Pivac in time for the Covid-affected 2021 Six Nations, which was played in empty stadiums.

North scored an important try in the opening victory against 14-man Ireland in Cardiff, with the visitors having flanker Peter O'Mahony sent off for a first-half dangerous tackle.

That win set Wales on their way to the Six Nations title with the Grand Slam only narrowly missed following a last-gasp defeat by France in Paris.

In that tournament, at 28 years and 320 days, North eclipsed Australia flanker Michael Hooper by four weeks as the youngest player to clock up 100 appearances for their country in the Triple Crown win against England.

France farewell

George North's try against France in 2023 would prove to be his final away score in the Six Nations

We return to the Stade de France in 2023, when North beat Shane Williams Six Nations' Wales try record with his 23rd score in the tournament in a 41-28 defeat.

North needs a hat-trick of tries in his final game against Italy to match Brian O'Driscoll's tournament record of 26.

One mark North will not reach is Williams' overall Wales record of 58 tries. North is second on the Welsh all-time list with 47.

George North's childhood hero was Shane Williams