Leigh Halfpenny says the ‘the future is bright’ for Wales as the 34-year-old prepares to make\u00a0his final appearance in the red jersey against the Barbarians<\/h1>\n

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• Leigh Halfpenny will play his last game for Wales in Cardiff on Saturday<\/strong><\/li>\n
• Four-time Six Nations winner plans to carry on playing club rugby next season<\/strong><\/li>\n
• New Zealand Super Rugby giants Crusaders leading race to sign the full-back<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Leigh Halfpenny declared \u2018the future is bright\u2019 for Welsh rugby as he prepares to bid farewell at international level after a glittering 15-year Test career.<\/p>\n

  Halfpenny will play his last game for Wales in a controversial match with the Barbarians at Principality Stadium on Saturday, one which takes place on the same day as a Welsh domestic derby.\u00a0<\/p>\n

  The 34-year-old, who won 101 caps for his country and is third on Wales\u2019 all-time list of men’s points scorers for Wales with 801, decided to retire from Tests after the World Cup.<\/p>\n

  Since his Wales debut in 2008, the Wales full-back shirt has been dominated by Halfpenny and Liam Williams but both players are now moving on.<\/p>\n

  \u2018Liam was a world class full-back and has been incredible for Wales. We’re good mates and it’s been a pleasure to play alongside him. He’s a good friend,\u2019 Halfpenny said.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  Wales star Leigh Halfpenny prepares to bid farewell after a glittering 15-year Test career<\/p>\n

  \u2018Obviously we’ve had that competition but it’s never got in the way of that friendship. He’s been unbelievable. You’ve got Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit who have played there (full-back). \u2018When they have, they’ve done an incredible job for Wales. You’ve got Tom Rogers. He’s a bright talent. I’m sure he’s got an exciting future ahead of him.<\/p>\n

  \u2018You’ve got Jacob Beetham at Cardiff, Cai Evans at the Dragons and I worked with the likes of Cameron Winnett from Cardiff and Iestyn Hopkins at the Ospreys while with the Under-20\u2019s.<\/p>\n

  \u2018The future is bright and there’s lots of talent coming through. It’s really exciting. I look forward to supporting them from the stands. I’m really excited for the future for Wales.\u2019<\/p>\n

  Halfpenny\u2019s relentless kicking accuracy and defensive solidarity made him a key figure in one of Welsh rugby\u2019s most successful periods.<\/p>\n

  The four-time Six Nations winner plans to carry on playing club rugby next season and it is understood a move to the southern hemisphere is likely.<\/p>\n

  New Zealand Super Rugby giants Crusaders are the leading contenders to sign Halfpenny but Japanese sides have also expressed an interest.<\/p>\n

  \u2018I now just have a feeling of huge gratitude for the opportunities to wear the jersey over the last 15 years,\u2019 said Halfpenny, who also won four caps for the British & Irish Lions and was man of the series in the 2-1 series win in Australia in 2013.<\/p>\n

  \u2018It’s been an absolute privilege to put on the Welsh shirt. I’d like to carry on playing for another couple of seasons if I can.\u2019<\/p>\n

  Halfpenny will say goodbye to Welsh rugby at Principality Stadium against the Barbarians who will have former Wales captains Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric in their ranks.<\/p>\n

  Both Jones and Tipuric also retired from international rugby before the World Cup.<\/p>\n

  Jones \u2013 the world\u2019s most capped player \u2013 will quit all rugby after this weekend.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

  The four-time Six Nations winner plans to carry on playing club rugby next season<\/p>\n

  Ospreys captain Tipuric has been given permission to play for the Barbarians instead of his region even though they play against the Sharks in London on Friday night.<\/p>\n

  \u2018It was a difficult decision to make, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to face my home nation and play against some of my best mates,\u2019 Tipuric said.<\/p>\n

  Interim Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Nigel Walker has admitted there should have been no clash between Wales\u2019 match with the Barbarians and United Rugby Championship fixtures.<\/p>\n

  The fact Wales\u2019 four regions will be without key players who are in action for Wales this weekend has angered supporters of the country\u2019s domestic sides.<\/p>\n

  Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Leigh Halfpenny says the ‘the future is bright’ for Wales as the 34-year-old prepares to make\u00a0his final appearance in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":296098,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n