Wednesday 29 April 2026 09:12, UK
George North has confirmed he will retire at the end of the 2026 season. As the winger prepares to draw a curtain on a long international career, one image from the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia keeps surfacing: the moment he lifted Israel Folau off his feet as the Australian tried to tackle him during the second Test.
The sequence — a collision that turned into a brief, airborne tableau — became one of the tour’s enduring pictures. It captured North’s blend of power, balance and determination: not just a physical statement on the field but a snapshot that summed up why he has been such a compelling presence for club, country and the Lions over the years.
That second Test was tightly contested and the lift has lived on in highlight reels and social feeds, often replayed whenever North’s name comes up. As fans and commentators reflect on his career in this final season, that fleeting, unforgettable moment remains a vivid reminder of the impact he made at the highest level of the game.