North, who announced the news shortly after Warren Gatland had named his XV for Super Saturday, returns to the team to rekindle his midfield partnership with Tompkins. The 31-year-old scored two tries on his international debut against South Africa in 2010, and has since gone on to win 118 caps. This is the back's 14th Championship.
Captain Dafydd Jenkins is named in the second row alongside Adam Beard. Alex Mann comes back into the Wales XV at blindside flanker.
Tight-head prop Dillon Lewis makes his first start of the 2024 Championship.
Among the replacements tight-head prop Harri O’Connor is in line to win his first senior international cap. Kemsley Mathias and Kieran Hardy are also named in the match day 23 as front row and scrum half cover respectively.
Wales XV
15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps); 14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 58 caps); 13. George North (Ospreys – 120 caps) 12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 35 caps); 11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 18 caps); 10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 11 caps) 9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 57 caps); 1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 29 caps) 2. Elliot Dee (Dragons – 50 caps) 3. Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 56 caps); 4. Dafydd Jenkins (c) (Exeter Chiefs – 16 caps) 5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 55 caps); 6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps) 7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 17 caps) 8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 47 caps) Replacements
16. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap) 17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 1 cap) 18. Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – uncapped) 19. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 32 caps) 20. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps) 21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 20 caps) 22. Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets – 6 caps) 23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 10 caps)
