On November 8th 2008, Leigh Halfpenny – a 19-year-old Test debutant – lined up a penalty against the world champion Springboks.
29 minutes into his first Test, this was Halfpenny’s first kick at goal for his country. By no means would it be his last.
Over the next 15 years, the metronomic goal-kicking of Halfpenny became one of Wales’ greatest weapons. By the time he retired from Test rugby in 2023, he had successfully kicked 81 conversions and 188 penalties for his country.
There was also five conversions and 13 penalties for the British and Irish Lions. 775 points in the Test arena from that trusty right boot.
Stood just behind Halfpenny back in the autumn of 2008 was Neil Jenkins, Wales’ all-time leading points scorer and Halfpenny’s mentor.
Throughout Halfpenny’s storied career, it would be Jenkins who would be stood closest for the hundreds of kicks at goal; a front-row seat at a master at work.
As Halfpenny announces his retirement from playing, it seemed fitting that the man who was right there next to Halfpenny through it all should pay tribute in his own words…
I first met Leigh back in the academy days, as a young kid at the Ospreys. That was the first time I got to meet him.
Crazily enough, the Ospreys let him go. Over time, through the age-grades and when he was snapped up by Cardiff, I spent more time with him. Then, all the way throughout senior rugby, we worked together. It has been a special bond.
Obviously, as a goal-kicker and kicking coach, you spend a lot of time together. Through the highs and the lows, in all sorts of conditions, victory or defeat.
You have an awful lot of conversations and you become way more than a coach. That’s just the natural progression of it.
In a funny sense, you become a bit of a psychologist and a close confidant through it all. There were, of course, times when we had to get into each other.
We were generally always on the same page. Sometimes, I’d have to put him in line. and , likewise, he’d have to do the same to me – it was a two-way street.
But we’ve had a fantastic relationship all the way through. I’ve got a huge amount of respect for what he’s done and what he’s been through.
I always try explain to people that, often in life, those who are any good work incredibly hard. Maybe harder than anyone else. Leigh’s one of those for sure.
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As a five-year-old, Halfpenny watched Wales play South Africa – or rather he watched Jenkins.
As Jenkins landed a penalty, the young Halfpenny turned to his family and said one day he too would play for Wales and kick the ball through the posts “just like Neil”.
Jenkins was Halfpenny’s hero.
I wasn’t aware of that! I would work with the likes of Leigh, Dan Biggar, James Hook, Rhys Priestland – all these guys that I spent a lot of time with.
I wouldn’t have known whether they knew me, liked me or were a fan if I’m brutally honest! But the funny thing is seeing where these boys are when they first start, then where they end up.
Seeing what Leigh is today, not just as a rugby player, but as a person more importantly for me. It’s been incredible seeing that journey.
From the highs and lows, some of his great days and one or two disappointing ones. I always remember him being so upset after that second Lions Test in Melbourne in 2013.
Never mind the fact he was excellent and had kept us in the game. That kick to win that game – he would have needed to be bionic to kick that!
But how quickly he got himself back on the horse a week later to win the final Test. I think he went eight from nine in Sydney.
That speaks volumes. Also, how many injuries he’s come back from – some serious ones – shows his appetite.
He finished with 101 caps. In a funny way, he should have had a lot more because of those injuries, which is just incredible.
I’ve got nothing but praise and love for him. An incredible person and an incredible career. He’s just class. He’s a brilliant person to be around.
I’d stand back and appreciate how good he was all the time – I can assure you of that! Leigh and Dan were basically the two best goal-kickers on the planet for 10 years. They were one and two.
What Leigh did and what he achieved for Wales speaks for itself. The funny thing is when he started out, he was just a long-distance goal-kicker.
He wasn’t a day-to-day goal-kicker. We asked him over a period of time to focus on that.
It probably happened in Dublin in 2012. Rhys, who was a very good goal-kicker, missed a couple that day and Leigh took over, nailed the match-winning kick and we went on to win the Grand Slam.
The rest is history. He just went on from strength to strength from there.
The amount of work he puts in, the effort – not just goal-kicking, but punting, defence, attack, the laptop work. He’s a proper, proper professional.
Sometimes, you’ve got to tell him to do a little bit less analysis or work! I remember myself and Gats trying to speak to him. The key was to get his arse on the pitch. The least he deserved was 100 caps for Wales, given what he’s done for the game and our nation.
So we were trying to protect him, which is easier said than done! Reaching that landmark was something we’d spoken about for some time. He’d been hovering on 97, 98 and 99 for a while.
It was huge for him and his family to get that milestone. He’s a family man and he’s willing to work so hard and make so many sacrifices over a long period of time. I know so many people who know Leigh, love him and admire him. It was an amazing moment.
He’s been a world-class player for Wales. He’s a class act on and off the pitch.
Having worked with Wales as an interim kicking coach in Japan last summer, this season saw Halfpenny take his next steps towards coaching – returning to his Cardiff as a player-coach.
Some at the Arms Park tell of the amusing sight of Halfpenny watching over one of Cardiff’s kickers, while Jenkins – still working for the Welsh Rugby Union – watches Halfpenny.
He’s done an amazing job this year. I know it’s tough for him not playing, he’s only had a couple of games for Cardiff. But he’s done an amazing job for them this season.
Callum (Sheedy) has transformed his stats this season. I know Callum who works hard, but a lot of that is down to Leigh.
He’s an incredible person, I’ll be honest with you, and I’ve nothing but a huge amount of time and respect for him.
I’d like to think we’ve got a pretty special relationship and there’s no doubting he’s a special person.
What I see him doing now, helping young kids and professionals get better, says everything about him if I’m honest. An incredible person and an amazing rugby player.
It’s very difficult to pick any moment out, because he’s been so good. I’ve been in games where he’s blowing but he settles himself down and nails a massive kick for Wales at any given time.
It’s funny but I say his best day for Wales was one where he had to find himself. That was in Murrayfield in 2013. The weather was horrific, he was one from four and, I’ll be honest, he was struggling a bit.
I’d never seen him like that. The crowd was on his back. They knew how good he was and they wanted him to miss.
I remember walking on the pitch after Richard Hibbard had scored over the far side. Leigh walked towards me with his scrum-cap off and his arms out, wondering what was going on. We had a quick chat about him doing what he does best.
Then he hit eight on the bounce. That, for me, was his best day. He was struggling and was unsure what to do, but he found himself in that moment.
Murrayfield is one of the most difficult grounds to kick in, especially with the weather that day. A week later, we went on to beat England 30-3 to win the Six Nations.
I always said to him that everything’s great when it’s hunky-dory, it’s how you react when you’re up against it and the pressure is on.
He did that his whole career. He’s been incredible.
Whatever accolades come his way, he’s deserving of it all.
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