Leigh Halfpenny will remain at Cardiff Arms Park next season and beyond as he begins the next chapter of his coaching career. 

The 37-year-old returned home to Cardiff Rugby last season as a player coach, hanging up his boots in May after taking his tally in Blue & Black to 90 games and 570 points. 

He recently helped the Wales senior men’s squad as a kicking coach for the first three rounds of the Nations Championship but he will now join Cardiff on a full-time basis. 

Halfpenny said: “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 l and I’m looking forward to bringing that experience back to the club.”

A wealth of experience to pass on

The legendary Wales and British & Irish Lions full-back will split his time between the Cardiff Rugby senior squad as a kicking coach, while also working as a skills coach within the academy set-up.

During an illustrious career, Halfpenny established himself as one of the game’s most deadly marksmen, while he was also renowned for his positional play, eye for a gap, bravery and dedication.

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. 

With the Lions he toured three times, winning the Player of the Series in 2013, where his metronomic goal kicking racked up the most-ever points for the Lions in a three-Test series while he also broke the record for most points in a single Test.

And it is that experience, Corniel van Zyl believes Halfpenny can pass on to not only the senior squad but generations of Blue & Blacks, helping drive standards as the club continues to grow. 

The Cardiff Rugby head coach, Corniel van Zyl said: “I’m really pleased that Leigh is joining the backroom staff as kicking coach.

“It is clear and evident 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 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.”