WRU to make Leigh Halfpenny announcement as mentor Neil Jenkins told to stay at home
WRU to make Leigh Halfpenny announcement as mentor Neil Jenkins told to stay at home
The former Wales full-back will join up with camp next week to help coach the national team
Leigh Halfpenny shakes hands with Neil Jenkins
(Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency )
Leigh Halfpenny will be confirmed as part of Wales' coaching staff for the tour of Japan in the coming days.
The former Wales full-back, who called time on his illustrious Test career after the 2023 World Cup, will join up with Matt Sherratt's coaching team from next week as preparations continue for the two-Test tour in July. The 36-year-old, who still has ambitions to carry on playing, will work as a kicking coach as part of interim head coach Sherratt's new-look coaching ticket.
The 101-cap international had been expected to take up a role in Sherratt's staff for the Japan tour, although he wasn't initially named in Wales' management team on the same day that Cardiff head coach Sherratt named his 33-man squad to face the Brave Blossoms.
Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Gloucester's T. Rhys Thomas and Harlequins pair Danny Wilson and Adam Jones have already been confirmed as part of Sherratt's staff for the upcoming tour.
Following his expected announcement this week, Halfpenny will take up his coaching duties next week - with Wales' preparations having started officially on Monday.
Some players have even been in longer, with optional extra conditioning sessions taking place at their Vale Resort training base last week.
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Following his Test retirement two years ago, Halfpenny has enjoyed spells in New Zealand and England, with Crusaders and Harlequins respectively.
The full-back's departure from the Stoop was confirmed last month, with his last game for Quins coming on the weekend against Bristol Bears.
He's now expected to join French club Beziers, but will spend his summer coaching with Wales first. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
With Halfpenny part of Wales' coaching staff in Japan, it means Neil Jenkins won't tour with the national team.
The former fly-half has been a mainstay of Wales' coaching team for nearly two decades, first working with the national team in 2006.
However, amid uncertainty over the future of the existing coaches, Jenkins is currently spending his time helping the U20s squad prepare for their World Championship campaign.
Over the years, Jenkins has formed a very close bond with Halfpenny - having worked closely with the full-back.
The 53-year-old was even present to watch Halfpenny's last game for Harlequins on the weekend.
The need to bring in a temporary coaching staff to Japan comes as the Welsh Rugby Union's search for Warren Gatland's successor goes on.
Gatland walked from the job during the Six Nations following a run of 14 consecutive Test defeats, with parts of his coaching staff remaining as Sherratt was parachuted into the job mid-tournament.
With Sherratt being tasked with taking temporary charge again, the Cardiff boss has been allowed to choose his own coaching staff.
As such, the rest of Gatland's backroom staff - Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley - will not be involved in Japan.
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WalesOnline understands that communication from the Union with the existing coaches prior to the announcement of the summer's coaching ticket had been sparse.
Some of those existing coaches are understood to be out of contract this summer, but the WRU insist no decision will be made on their futures until the new head coach is in place, with the search getting closer to its conclusion.
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