North also has established himself as one of the top try-scorers at test level, holding the record for the most tries scored by an active international player.

This announcement followed the Welsh Rugby Union claiming that Scarlets had attempted to sell North to French clubs, which had been rejected.

[9] North was instrumental in Saints securing a European Rugby Champions Cup place for the 2017–18 season as the side beat both Connacht Rugby and Stade Francais in the European Champions Cup play-off games to claim the final spot in the competition for the following season.

[15] North made an impressive start to his international career on 13 November 2010 in a match against the reigning world champions, by scoring two tries for Wales as they lost to South Africa 29–25 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

[16] He set a number of Welsh and international records in the match:[17] North, aged 18 years, 214 days, became the youngest player ever to score a try in his debut for Wales.

The previous record holder was James O'Connor of Australia, who was aged 18 years, 343 days when he scored a hat-trick against Italy in 2009.

He was not picked to play for Wales for most of the 2011 Six Nations as coach Warren Gatland generally opted for more experienced wingers Shane Williams and Morgan Stoddart,[19] however during the final weekend of the tournament North was given his opportunity to start on the left wing against France, as Williams was not picked to play and Stoddart was on the replacements bench.

North played four of Wales' five games during the 2015 Six Nations, only missing the match against Scotland in the second round due to a concussion he suffered against England the week before.

North returned to his usual position on the wing and played the full 80 minutes, but again failed to score and Wales ended up losing 23–19.

[25] After heavy criticism from his coaches and the media in 2017, North scored three tries in the 2017 Six Nations, one against Italy on 5 February and a double against Ireland on 10 March, becoming the joint-highest try scorer of the tournament with seven other players.

After New Zealand winger Julian Savea was dropped from the team for the 2017 Rugby Championship, this made North the highest try scored of all currently active Tier 1 international players.

He started on the left wing for Wales' first Pool D match against South Africa, which they narrowly lost by a score of 17–16 against the reigning world champions.

On 22 June in Brisbane, North scored the first Lions try vs Australia; a run from inside his own 10-metre line beating four players.

North was selected by the British & Irish Lions for their tour of New Zealand, alongside his Northampton team-mate Courtney Lawes.

[35] North played in three fixtures on the tour but was sent home early with fellow injured back Robbie Henshaw after tearing his hamstring.

After suffering an ACL injury in April 2021, North was ruled out of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.