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Halfpenny commits coaching future to Cardiff
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny has committed his coaching future to Cardiff after retiring as a player at the end of the 2025-26 season. Having finished his playing career as a Cardiff player-coach, the 37-year-old will now take up a full-time skills coach role at the Arms Park, working with both senior players and academy talent.
Halfpenny, who scored 801 points and won 101 caps for Wales, also served as Wales' kicking coach during their recent three-game Nations Championship summer campaign. Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl praised his professionalism and the improvement he brought to the club's kickers last season, saying Halfpenny will now work across goal-kicking, touch-kicking and scrum-half technique, as well as within the academy to further his own coaching development.
In short
- Leigh Halfpenny takes up full-time skills coach role at Cardiff
- Follows retirement as a player and stint as Wales kicking coach
- Will work with senior squad and academy players on kicking skills
Explained simply
Leigh Halfpenny is a highly decorated Welsh rugby player who won 101 caps for Wales and represented the British and Irish Lions. The former full-back, now 37 years old, has spent this season as a player-coach at Cardiff whilst also serving as Wales's kicking coach.
Halfpenny will retire from playing at the end of the 2025-26 season but will continue at Cardiff in a full-time role as a skills coach. He will work across goal-kicking, touch-kicking and scrum-half technique with both senior players and academy prospects.
Halfpenny has gained recent experience as Wales's kicking coach during their Nations Championship campaign. Cardiff's decision to retain him in a full-time coaching role builds on the improvements he has already brought to the club's kickers this season.