The 30-year-old wing or centre picked up the injury in the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup against Leicester Tigers and was rated touch and go to be able to add to his 109 Welsh caps when the 2023 championship kicks off on 4 February.
But Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has confirmed the operation went well and that North, one of Warren Gatland’s options to play at centre against world ranked No 1 side Ireland at the start of next month when they come to Principality Stadium, is back in training.
He won’t play against Leinster in the URC this weekend but could be considered for the games against Montpellier and Leicester when the Champions Cup returns later this month.
“George is getting closer. He did rugby training this week, which is great, and it’s just about him being confident about that but it is great to see him back out there,” said Booth.
Booth also confirmed that his other Welsh centre, Owen Watkin, has yet to return to training and is in a race to get back for the Six Nations. Watkin picked up a knee injury against Georgia during Wales’ Autumn Nations Series and has not played since.
“Owen is not training yet, he has had a tidy up but hopefully won’t be out for too much longer,” said Booth.
Flanker Dan Lydiate is still sidelined with the broken arm he suffered in the Autumn Series and is not expected to return until February.
Meanwhile, Cardiff duo Dillon Lewis and Josh Navidi are both touch and go for the championship. Tight head prop Lewis still has his knee in a brace, while Navidi is still a month off returning to play for the first time since picking up a back injury on last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour.
“Dillon is still braced up, he’s a good bit off. The best picture for him is he plays against Leinster at the end of this block, although realistically that’ll be too early for him,” said Cardiff director of rugby, Dai Young.
“He’s not in the latter stages of rehab yet and that’ll determine whether he kicks-on really quickly, or at a steady pace. If it’s not the last game of this block, it’ll be the middle of the Six Nations block.”
Navidi, 32, is expected to be back in action for Cardiff in the next four weeks. With no rugby behind him since last year, his main focus will probably be on getting fit to fight for a place at the World Cup
“Josh is back in training this week, but with no contact. It could be three to four weeks off playing if everything goes to plan,” added Young.
