ノースがウェールズ代表引退へ　シックスネーションズ限りで

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】ラグビーウェールズ代表のＣＴＢジョージ・ノースが１３日、今週末に行われるシックスネーションズのイタリア戦を最後に代表を引退すると発表した。（写真はラグビーウェールズ代表のジョージ・ノース）
　３１歳のノースは１８歳だった２０１０年に代表デビューし、これまでに同代表歴代２位の通算４７トライ、同３位の通算１２０キャップを記録した。
　Ｘ（旧ツイッター）で、１４年にわたる代表キャリアを経て「今がまさに退く時」だと感じたと説明。代表の練習拠点で行われた取材では「全く簡単な決断ではなかった」と明かし、「今週と（イタリア戦が行われる）土曜日を使ってすべてを受け入れ、もう一度自分の夢を生きたい」と語った。
　ウェールズでは、この１０か月でアラン・ウィン・ジョーンズ、ジャスティン・ティプリック、ダン・ビガー、リー・ハーフペニーら大物選手が続々と代表から引退している。
　チームは今回のシックスネーションズで未勝利となっており、１６日に行われる最終節のイタリア戦では２００３年以来となる全敗回避を目指す。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/03/14-16:47）

Wales centre George North announced on Wednesday he will retire from international rugby after this weekend's Six Nations match against Italy, saying he will live my dream once more.
The 31-year-old has scored 47 tries for his country -- a figure bettered only by Shane Williams (58) -- and is third on Wales's all-time cap list with 120 Test appearances, behind only Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
North, who has been recalled for the clash against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, it was the right to time step away after a glittering 14-year international career.
It has not been an easy decision for me at all, the emotional player said at Wales's training base.
It is the best thing for me and my family and the sacrifice everyone has to make.
I didn't think this day would come -- I wished this day would never come -- but for me it is about being able to go out on my terms and being able to enjoy it like I have for every second of the last 14 years.
I am going to use this week and Saturday to really take it all in and to live my dream again one more time.
North, who played most of his time with Wales as a wing before moving to centre and who will join French club Provence next season, addressed his teammates on Wednesday.
And he underlined how he wants it to be business as usual when Wales strive for a first victory of this season's Six Nations against Italy, with both teams battling to avoid the wooden spoon.
I said (to the squad), let's not get weird, he said. This week is the same and the preparation is the same.
I asked them for nothing to change from what we always do. For us, it is a must-win game and the focus should never be on one individual.
North is the latest big-name Wales player to step down from Test rugby over the past 10 months, following in the footsteps of Jones, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny.
- Sensational debut -
The England-born back burst onto the international scene in style, scoring two tries on his Wales debut as an 18-year-old wing against South Africa in 2010.
He played in four Rugby World Cups and helped Wales win four Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who gave North his international debut in his first spell in charge of the national side, paid a warm tribute.
He's been incredible as a rugby player, but I think the most important thing is how he's contributed to the squad as a person over the years, he said.
I look forward to watching George play at Principality Stadium one final time in a red jersey on Saturday, and I hope everyone will join me in celebrating him.
The Ospreys player will end his international career by trying to help Wales avoid losing all five games in a single Six Nations campaign for the first time since 2003.
Wales have a miserable recent record, losing 11 of their past 12 matches in the competition.
North, who was omitted from the Wales starting line-up beaten 45-24 by France last week, replaces Joe Roberts against Italy, with fellow centre Nick Tompkins returning instead of Owen Watkin.
Two other changes are in the forwards, where Harlequins prop Dillon Lewis is preferred to Keiron Assiratti and Cardiff flanker Alex Mann packs down alongside back-row colleagues Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright.
Italy will kick off in Cardiff buoyed by a 31-29 win over Scotland in Rome, which followed a morale-boosting 13-13 draw with France.
The Azzurri will also be looking for a second straight win in the Welsh capital following a thrilling 22-21 Six Nations success two years ago.
We definitely don't want to finish bottom and the squad is hungry to win, said Gatland.
Italy have quality players throughout the side and have been good at taking opportunities when they get them to keep the scoreboard ticking over. We're excited and will step up and welcome the challenge ahead.