Leigh Halfpenny has joined fellow Welsh players and coaches Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Jarrod Evans and Adam Jones at Harlequins
More than 16 years into his professional career you could be forgiven for thinking Leigh Halfpenny might be slowing down.
Not a bit of it. The former Wales full-back is instead preparing for a fresh challenge at the age of 35 with Harlequins.
It will be a fifth club in a fourth league for Halfpenny who will play in the Premiership for the first time after experiencing the United Rugby Championship (URC), France’s Top 14 and Super Rugby.
It is that latter tournament where Halfpenny spent a year with the New Zealand side Crusaders before returning and then linking up at the Stoop.
Halfpenny has also been brought in by Harlequins for his experience, but his initial goal is clear.
“I want to carry on playing,” said Halfpenny.
“I have still got that competitiveness and hunger in me to carry on playing.
“Primarily I want to play and push for the position. That comes through earning the right and working hard because there’s great competition in the back three.
“Alongside that it’s about helping the younger lads wherever I can and I’m happy to do that.
“But I am a player first and I can’t wait for that opportunity to get on the field.”
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Halfpenny was without a club, having completed the Super Rugby Pacific season with Crusaders in New Zealand where his appearances were limited because of injury.
“Last season was frustrating. I was so excited by that opportunity,” said Halfpenny.
“I enjoyed the experience of going to New Zealand, but because of the injury I didn’t get the game time I would have liked.
“The body feels good now. I just can’t wait to get out there.”
After getting married in the summer to his wife Jess, Halfpenny has a new life on and off the field.
“I got back from New Zealand and this Harlequins opportunity came up so I jumped at the chance,” said Halfpenny.
“Harlequins is a great club with a rich history and I can’t wait for the season.
“I have watched the Premiership over the years and it’s a great league with great games.
“Every game is tough and you have got to be at the top of your game every match.
“There are packed crowds. Watching it on TV, every game looks like a great atmosphere.
“As a player that’s what you want, to be part of big pressure games and testing yourself.
“So I’m excited about challenging myself in this league but understand I’ve got to earn the right to wear the jersey.”
One of the modern greats
Halfpenny’s enthusiasm is admirable considering the stellar career he has had.
After making his Wales debut in 2008, he has gone on to become a great of European rugby, playing 101 times for his country and winning Six Nations Grand Slams in 2012 and 2019.
He played in three World Cups and also starred on the 2013 Lions tour of Australia, being named player of the series in a 2-1 series win.
Throughout these achievements, Halfpenny’s team-mates and coaches have always remarked how humble he has remained.
“I feel privileged to have had the opportunities I have had,” said Halfpenny.
“There are the ups and downs of playing with injury and things. As a kid, you grow up watching rugby and dreaming of being able to do that one day.
“I feel fortunate and privileged to have had the opportunities I have had.”
Halfpenny’s famous professionalism also remains intact. His fellow Wales international Wyn Jones has joined Harlequins at the same time and the pair will be living together for the first month in south-west London while they get settled.
Jones has already jokingly warned Halfpenny they will not be sharing lifts to training, with the full-back staying on an extra couple of hours after training to practise kicks at goal.
It is a trait Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson knows well.
“Leigh has been brought in for three reasons,” said Wilson.
“Firstly, his career goes before him in terms of what he’s done as a rugby player. He’s still got a huge amount to offer on the field as a rugby player and that’s his priority, he’ll be keen to get out there and prove himself.
“There are two other sides. What Leigh can add to our younger developing players coming through, what he can add to us as a coaching group, what he can add to us as a mentor.
“He’s one of the best, if not the best, defensive full-backs in world rugby, in terms of positional understanding and covering back-field spaces.
“The third part is he’s a model professional. Anyone who knows Leigh, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with him before, he’s still one of the best professionals you’ll come across. That’s a great example for our young players.”
