No sooner had Leigh Halfpenny arrived back from the Wales senior men’s camp at the Nations Championship than he was named as Cardiff Rugby’s full-time kicking coach for next season.
The legendary Wales and British & Irish Lions full back helped out at the Arms Park last season as a player-coach, but has now hung up his boots as a player. Instead, he will work with Corniel van Zyl with the senior squad and also help out as a skills coach with the club’s Academy players.
The 37-year-old returned home to Cardiff Rugby last season, making a final few appearances to take his club tally to 90 games and 570 points in two spells. He also won 101 caps for Wales, helping his country to clinch three Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams, and sits third on the all-time men’s points list with 801.
He went on three tours with the British & Irish Lions in 2009, 2013 and 2017 and played in four Tests. In Australia in 2013 he was named as the Player of the Series as the Lions beat the Wallabies 2-1 in the series and he scored the most points in a series and a single Test for the touring team.
First brought into the Welsh camp by Matt Sherratt when he was the interim head coach for last year’s summer tour to Japan, he was also involved in the recent Nations Championship.
“This is a club that means a huge amount to me so I’m thrilled to be joining Cardiff on a full-time basis. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Arms Park last season as I continued my transition from player to coach,” said Halfpenny.
“There is a great group of players, who I enjoyed working with last season, and I believe I can add value to the group, while also helping the young players coming through.
“It was a huge honour to work with Wales again this summer. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity l and I’m looking forward to bringing that experience back to the club.”
As well as paying at Cardiff, where he was in the side that won the European Challenge Cup in 2010, he also had spells at Toulon, where he won the Heineken Cup, Scarlets and Harlequins.
“It’s clear and evident from last year’s work that Leigh did that all of our kickers improved. He is so professional and diligent in everything he does, so now moving into a full-time role I’m excited to see the impact he will have,” said Cardiff head coach Van Zyl.
“He will work with all of our kickers from goal-kicking and touch kicking etcetera, to our scrum-halves and their technique. But he will also work within the academy, which will be really beneficial for his growth and development as a coach.
“He has a great future as a coach and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to the Arms Park following another great experience with the national squad.”