Wales edge Barbarians as George North closes career with two tries

Wales beat the Barbarians 33-31 at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, holding off a late push in an uncapped fixture. George North, appearing in his final rugby match, scored twice for the Barbarians and added a conversion with the last kick.

Dan Edwards crossed twice for Wales, with Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Ellis Mee also scoring in a five-try performance. The Barbarians’ points came through Vincent Koch, Alex Nankivell, Santiago Arata and North’s double, keeping the match alive until the end.

The game also served as preparation for Wales before the Nations Championship, though the context matters: it was played outside the official World Rugby window, so Wales selected only from domestic regions. Players based in England and France are expected to come back into consideration when the tournament squad is named.

North’s cameo gave the occasion its emotional centre. For Wales, the narrow win offered useful minutes in demanding heat, but the tight scoreline and the uncapped setting leave plenty for the coaching staff to assess before facing Fiji in Cardiff.