**Leigh Halfpenny Set to Join Wales’ Coaching Staff for Japanese Tour, as Neil Jenkins Remains at Home**
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is poised to announce that respected former international, Leigh Halfpenny, will officially join the Wales coaching team for their upcoming summer tour to Japan. The decision marks a significant step in Halfpenny’s transition from celebrated player to vital backroom figure, as interim head coach Matt Sherratt brings fresh energy and ideas into a side searching for stability after a turbulent period.
Halfpenny, who amassed 101 caps for Wales before retiring from international rugby following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, is set to assist with kicking duties when the squad assembles in preparation for the two-Test series in July. Despite hints at continuing his playing career at club level, the 36-year-old now takes his first steps into coaching on the international stage, having not been initially listed in the management lineup announced alongside Sherratt’s 33-man touring squad.
His journey into coaching comes on the heels of a notable playing career that spanned New Zealand with the Crusaders and, more recently, England, where he finished the domestic season turning out for Harlequins. Last weekend marked his final appearance for the London-based club in a match against Bristol Bears. While there is speculation he may soon sign with French outfit Beziers, Halfpenny’s attention will, for the summer at least, be firmly fixed on his responsibilities within the national set-up.
The new coaching ticket for the Japan tour already includes Cardiff’s defensive specialist Gethin Jenkins, ex-Wales hooker T. Rhys Thomas of Gloucester, and the Harlequins duo Danny Wilson and Adam Jones. With preparations for the tour already underway at Wales’ Vale Resort base, Halfpenny’s insight and experience are expected to provide invaluable mentorship to the squad. Several players have even undertaken additional conditioning sessions ahead of the official start of camp.
In a noticeable reshuffle, Neil Jenkins—another legendary Welsh kicker and a stalwart of the coaching team since 2006—will not be travelling to Japan. Jenkins, who has developed a close personal and professional relationship with Halfpenny over the years, is currently focused on helping prepare the Welsh U20s side for their own World Championship challenge. The presence of Jenkins at Halfpenny’s final Quins game last week underscored the mutual respect and strong bond between the pair.
This temporary alteration in coaching personnel comes amid an ongoing review at the heart of Welsh rugby. The WRU’s search for a long-term replacement for Warren Gatland has seen various shifts within the national setup, following a string of disappointments—including the resignation of the New Zealander after a prolonged losing streak during the Six Nations. As Sherratt returns for a second stint in interim charge, he has been granted autonomy to appoint his own staff, resulting in several members of the previous regime, such as Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King, and Rob Howley, taking a back seat for this tour.
Communication from WRU headquarters regarding plans for existing coaches has reportedly been limited, a reflection of the broader uncertainty as the Union continues its recruitment for a new permanent head coach. Some outgoing coaches’ contracts are believed to be set to expire over the summer, but WRU officials are adamant that no decisions on their futures will be finalised until a new head coach is appointed.
As for Halfpenny, fans and fellow professionals alike will watch with interest as he applies the same meticulous dedication that defined his playing career to his first major coaching role. His hands-on contributions during the summer tour could prove instrumental both for Wales’ fortunes in Japan and for shaping the ongoing evolution of the coaching structure back home.
As the WRU prepares to confirm Halfpenny’s appointment in the coming days, Welsh rugby supporters await a new chapter with a blend of excitement and cautious optimism in what remains a transitional era for the national game.