The 30-year-old wing or centre picked up the harm within the opening spherical of the Heineken Champions Cup in opposition to Leicester Tigers and was rated contact and go to have the ability to add to his 109 Welsh caps when the 2023 championship kicks off on 4 February.
However Ospreys head coach Toby Sales space has confirmed the operation went properly and that North, one among Warren Gatland’s choices to play at centre in opposition to world ranked No 1 aspect Eire initially of subsequent month once they come to Principality Stadium, is again in coaching.
He gained’t play in opposition to Leinster within the URC this weekend however may very well be thought of for the video games in opposition to Montpellier and Leicester when the Champions Cup returns later this month.
“George is getting nearer. He did rugby coaching this week, which is nice, and it’s nearly him being assured about that however it’s nice to see him again on the market,” mentioned Sales space.
Sales space additionally confirmed that his different Welsh centre, Owen Watkin, has but to return to coaching and is in a race to get again for the Six Nations. Watkin picked up a knee harm in opposition to Georgia throughout Wales’ Autumn Nations Collection and has not performed since.
“Owen is just not coaching but, he has had a tidy up however hopefully gained’t be out for an excessive amount of longer,” mentioned Sales space.
Flanker Dan Lydiate continues to be sidelined with the damaged arm he suffered within the Autumn Collection and isn’t anticipated to return till February.
In the meantime, Cardiff duo Dillon Lewis and Josh Navidi are each contact and go for the championship. Tight head prop Lewis nonetheless has his knee in a brace, whereas Navidi continues to be a month off returning to play for the primary time since choosing up a again harm on final summer time’s British & Irish Lions tour.
“Dillon continues to be braced up, he’s a great bit off. The perfect image for him is he performs in opposition to Leinster on the finish of this block, though realistically that’ll be too early for him,” mentioned Cardiff director of rugby, Dai Younger.
“He’s not within the latter levels of rehab but and that’ll decide whether or not he kicks-on actually shortly, or at a gradual tempo. If it’s not the final sport of this block, it’ll be the center of the Six Nations block.”
Navidi, 32, is anticipated to be again in motion for Cardiff within the subsequent 4 weeks. With no rugby behind him since final yr, his principal focus will most likely be on getting match to struggle for a spot on the World Cup
“Josh is again in coaching this week, however with no contact. It may very well be three to 4 weeks off enjoying if every thing goes to plan,” added Younger.
