North scores two tries against Wales in final match before retirement

George North scored two tries for the Barbarians in his final appearance before retirement as Wales narrowly beat the invitational side 33-31 at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.

North came off the bench in the second half to a tremendous ovation as the Wales great brought down the curtain on an illustrious career against the country for which he scored 47 tries in 121 caps.

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North's first touch was a familiar one as the giant wing took Harry Plummer's pass and barged his way through two defenders to score.

After crossing the whitewash for a second time, North fittingly had the last word as he converted Santiago Arata's score with the final act of the match.

This victory was the first time Wales have won successive matches since the 2023 World Cup.

After beating Italy in March to end a three-year wait for a Six Nations victory, Wales will head into the upcoming inaugural Nations Championship with increased confidence, especially as they were without their English and French-based players.

Fly-half Dan Edwards contributed 14 points with two tries and a couple of conversions, while Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Ellis Mee also crossed. Sam Costelow added two conversions.

The Barbarians replied through Vincent Koch and Alex Nankivell as well as North's interventions.

Wales were without 13 players on the books of English and French clubs as the fixture fell outside World Rugby's official window, but forwards Teddy Williams and Jac Morgan were both available after long-term injury.

British and Irish Lions flanker Morgan had not worn Wales colours since dislocating his shoulder when scoring a try against Argentina in November.

Wales were out of the blocks fast on a sweltering afternoon in south west London and Hardy sniped over for a fifth-minute try that Edwards converted.

The Barbarians responded rapidly as South Africa prop Koch touched down under a pile of bodies, but Plummer's conversion attempt struck a post and the players were soon grateful for the first hydration break.

Taine Plumtree's line-out take set up a Wales attack that saw the impressive Aaron Wainwright held up by a post, but Hardy's long pass set up a simple score for Edwards which he added to.

Wainwright should have profited from Dewi Lake's midfield break, but the No 8 was let down by the hooker's poor pass and the Barbarians defence recovered.

Wales kept the scoreboard ticking as Hardy spotted a huge hole in the Barbarians defence and Edwards gathered the kick for his second try.

Replacement scrum-half Morgan-Williams made his mark with a show-and-go try, but Nankivell's quickfire score for the Baa Baas made it 26-17 on the hour.

Mee went over for Wales' fifth try while North carved out an appropriate ending to his illustrious career scoring a second try and the final points of the match with a conversion.