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What now for Leigh Halfpenny?

By James Harrington
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny (Getty Images)

Last season, Leigh Halfpenny was the third highest-earner in France’s Top 14, behind Dan Carter and Matt Giteau. Today, with pre-season in full swing, and a matter of weeks before the new northern hemisphere seasons kick off, he is out of work, after another Welsh region ruled itself out of the running for his signature.

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The dead-eye fullback’s last meaningful act for former club Toulon was to kick them level in the 70th minute of a tense Top 14 semi-final against La Rochelle at the end of May. A day later, he joined the Lions for the tour of New Zealand, leaving behind an unsigned one-year contract extension, reportedly worth €750,000.

That offer was withdrawn midway through the first week of the tour. Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal blamed the Welshman’s regular international absences for his decision.

This week, Scarlets became the latest Welsh club to turn down Halfpenny’s services. The club said their recruitment plans were complete, and they could not afford the player, even on a National Dual Contract (NDC) that would see the WRU pick up 60% of the wage bill.

Ospreys also reportedly have no interest in British Lion – and with Dan Evans, Sam Davies and James Hook already on the books, they really have no need for another fullback.

Meanwhile, a proposed deal for him to join the WRU-owned Dragons fell through in March; and the chances of Halfpenny joining former club Cardiff Blues for a second spell seems remote as their wage bill has already soared past £5million for next season.

So where does that leave the player? English Premiership sides Bath and Wasps are reportedly interested in his signature. But such a move comes with its own issues – whether ‘Gatland’s Law’ on senior players takes effect or not, which depends on whether a formal offer from a Welsh club is on the table – notably the Premiership’s strict rules on releasing non-English players for internationals.

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He could choose to remain in France, though with many clubs unwilling to fork out as much as Toulon for his services, he would have to agree to a sizeable drop in salary.

But there is an additional issue that could be a dealbreaker for many clubs. Halfpenny is now on an eight-week rest period owed to all Lions tourists. That means he is unlikely to be ready to return to action until mid-October – just as newly returned Wales coach Warren Gatland starts calling up players for the November internationals.

Any club that does come in for the player is likely to have to wait until December at the earliest for the first signs of any return on their investment.

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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