Recently retired Wales legend Leigh Halfpenny confirms club future

Leigh Halfpenny, who hung up his boots at the end of last season, will remain at Cardiff Arms Park next season after being appointed first-team kicking coach and skills coach within the academy set-up.

Halfpenny, 37, recently helped Wales as a kicking coach for the first three rounds of the Nations Championship and scored 570 points in 90 appearances for the Blue & Blacks.

He won 101 caps for Wales, three Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and sits third on the all-time men’s points list with 801 and admits that the club means a huge amount to him.

“I am thrilled to join Cardiff on a full-time basis. It is a club that means a huge amount to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Arms Park as I continued my transition from player to coach last season.

“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, and I’m looking forward to bringing that experience back to the club,” he said.

Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl believes Halfpenny, who toured three times with the Lions, winning the Player of the Series in 2013, can help drive standards as the club continues to grow.

“I’m really pleased that Leigh is joining the backroom staff as kicking coach. It is clear from last year’s work 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 am excited to see the impact he will have. He will work with all of our kickers, from goal-kicking and touch-kicking 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,” added van Zyl.