Ospreys and Wales winger George North has been named in World Rugby's Team of the Decade!
North, who has 98 caps for Wales and three for the British and Irish Lions, scored his 41st Welsh try in Saturday’s victory against Italy in Llanelli. His former Wales and Lions teammate Jamie Roberts, a trained doctor, also received recognition for highlighting the work of the NHS during the first wave of COVID-19.
North exploded onto the international scene as an 18-year-old a decade ago, scoring a brace of tries against South Africa in Cardiff, and his consistent strike rate and all-round powerful play has seen him play a key role in Grand Slams, Six Nations titles and the successful Lions tour in 2013.
Six nations are represented in the World Rugby Men’s 15s Team of the Decade in association with Mastercard selected by the star-studded panel with seven players from New Zealand, three from South Africa, two from Ireland and one each from Australia, Italy and Wales. The Team of the Decade boasts a total of 1,637 test caps between them.
1. Tendai Mtawarira (RSA) 2. Bismarck du Plessis (RSA) 3. Owen Franks (NZL) 4. Brodie Retallick (NZL) 5. Sam Whitelock (NZL) 6. David Pocock (AUS) 7. Richie McCaw (NZL) 8. Sergio Parisse (ITA) 9. Conor Murray (IRE) 10. Dan Carter (NZL) 11. Bryan Habana (RSA) 12. Ma’a Nonu (NZL) 13. Brian O’Driscoll (IRE) 14. George North (WAL) 15. Ben Smith (NZL)
To read the story in full and to understand how the Team of the Decade was selected head over to wru.wales