Leigh Halfpenny has left Steve Tandy’s Wales set-up to remain at Cardiff Rugby as the region’s kicking coach.

The 37-year-old was Wales’ kicking coach during the recent Nations Championship summer campaign but he will now join Cardiff on a full-time basis.

Halfpenny 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.

“I am thrilled to join Cardiff on a full-time basis,” he said.

“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.”

Halfpenny 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.

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

“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.”

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