**WRU Courting Leigh Halfpenny for Coaching Position Amid Search for New Wales Management Team**
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has reportedly made initial contact with veteran full-back Leigh Halfpenny, exploring the prospect of his involvement as a kicking coach for Wales’ forthcoming summer tour of Japan. As the search for a new head coach intensifies and the rest of the Welsh coaching ticket remains unconfirmed, Halfpenny’s potential addition to the backroom staff has garnered considerable attention.
Halfpenny, now 36, is no stranger to mentoring roles within the Welsh rugby setup. He has previously participated in the WRU’s Player to Coach initiative, working alongside notable contemporaries such as Justin Tipuric, Bradley Davies and James Hook. His recent work with the Welsh Under-20s—specifically advising young talents like Dan Edwards and Cameron Winnett on kicking—has highlighted his aptitude for coaching in this specialist area. However, there are strong indications that a commitment to coaching with Wales this summer is unlikely at present.
Following a season with Premiership side Harlequins, Halfpenny is preparing for a new challenge, potentially joining French ProD2 outfit Beziers. This pending move would suggest the experienced international full-back still harbours ambitions to extend his playing career at a competitive level. As such, any part-time arrangement with the Welsh national side looks improbable in the immediate term.
While speculation over Halfpenny’s future continues, the WRU’s efforts to settle their coaching line-up for the Japanese tour have yet to yield a definitive outcome. Matt Sherratt, currently in charge at Cardiff, remains the frontrunner to lead the squad, having steered Wales through the final three fixtures of this year’s Six Nations campaign. The identities of his coaching colleagues, however, are still under wraps, with an official announcement expected in the coming week.
Sources close to the WRU indicate that Harlequins’ Danny Wilson is being strongly considered to assist Sherratt during the two-Test series in Kitakyushu and Kobe. Another prospective addition is Adam Jones, the former Wales prop who, under Warren Gatland, took on a short-term scrum coaching role during the last Six Nations while on loan from Harlequins. Meanwhile, skills coach T. Rhys Thomas, currently with Gloucester and who joined Sherratt’s staff during this year’s tournament, may also feature in the new setup.
Further uncertainty has arisen as Cardiff defence coach and ex-Wales stalwart Gethin Jenkins has been linked to a possible reunion with the national side. Jenkins has publicly stated, however, that he has not seriously considered a return, having served as defence coach under Wayne Pivac from 2020 to 2022.
The situation is further complicated by the contract status of existing national coaches Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, and Rob Howley, all of whom are approaching the end of their current deals. Reports suggest they have not been formally approached regarding their roles for the upcoming tour, keeping their futures with the Welsh setup uncertain.
These multifaceted developments underscore the challenges facing the WRU as they strive to instil stability within their coaching hierarchy. As they seek both immediate and long-term solutions during a period of transition, the pursuit of experienced figures such as Halfpenny—despite his apparent intention to keep playing—demonstrates the Union’s commitment to harnessing homegrown rugby expertise.
With announcements anticipated imminently, rugby supporters across Wales and beyond will be watching with keen interest as the WRU shapes its coaching staff for a pivotal tour, and potentially, the foundation for the next generation of Welsh rugby leadership.