Gorseinon Rugby Club officials have been trying to put money on Halfpenny making the Lions tour since he made his international debut last November, but, although they believe it was never in doubt, the 20-year-old local product has been overwhelmed by the internationally recognised honour bestowed upon him.
The Welsh Rugby Union took Halfpenny, fellow international Ian Gough and coaches Rob Howley, Robin McBryde and Neil Jenkins, to the Swansea club for a star-studded evening last Thursday, designed to share WRU expertise at the grass roots level of the game in Wales.
Gorseinon RFC won the ‘advice clinic’ – which, along with coaching sessions from the national squad members, included talking shops with head analyst Rhys Long, Group head of operations Tim Burton and Millennium Stadium groundsman Lee Evans – after taking part in the WRU-backed S4C tv show Cwis Meddiant and defeating Harlech RFC in the final.
“Coming back home to Gorseinon rugby club really puts it all into perspective for me about just what a week I’ve had,” said Halfpenny, who was also joined by two other former club team-mates to have climbed the elite rugby ladder in Dan Bigger, the Osprey also capped by Wales last November and Ely Walker, who is a current U18s international.
“It’s great for me to have the opportunity to give something back, many of the players still in the first team here are players who I started out with and are still good friends and all my friends and family still spend time at the club regularly.
“The club always send a couple of bus loads of people to games when I’m playing and I’m sure there will be a good few of them booking tickets to South Africa to come out there and support me – the support I get from them is pretty overwhelming really.
“On the day of the Lions announcement there were people driving past my house beeping their horns and cheering just on the off chance I was in there, but I came down to the club later that evening anyway just to show them all what they mean to me.
“It’s amazing to be able to give something back at events like today and everyone has really appreciated what the WRU have done here.
“There’s plenty of talent around the club has a good youth structure so there is no doubt more players will be coming through. I got myself most involved with a training session with Under 11s squad and can still remember coming here as young as 8 years old myself and relishing the experience.”
WRU head of communications John Williams added: “The event has proved a resounding success and we will certainly look to find more opportunities like this one in the future.
“The WRU development officers work hard week in week out at getting round the many clubs we have in Wales and the officers who have been here today were a vital part of the event we put on and deserve much credit.
“Events like this can be a catalyst for everyone from the youth teams to the senior players to anyone connected with a club and we would also like to thank Gorseinon RFC for their hospitality and enthusiasm for what we have tried to achieve here.
“A lot of co-operation takes place behind the scenes, but today that work took centre stage for everyone to see. We have some of the best coaches and players in world rugby here in Wales and it is extremely rewarding for them to be able to pass on those tips directly to the people who make rugby our national sport.”
