Speaking on social media the 101 cap Welsh international said: “Having had time to reflect after the Rugby World Cup campaign, it’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step away from international rugby.
“The decision hasn’t been easy, but the time feels right for me now and I look forward to running out one last time against the Barbarians next week at home.
“It’s been such a huge honour and privilege to put on the Welsh jersey and represent my country over the past 15 years. It was a dream as a kid growing up playing for Gorseinon to one day play for Wales and I’ve made the most incredible memories.
“There’s been ups and downs but I will look back on my international career with immense pride, there’s no better feeling running out to a full Principality Stadium wearing the Welsh jersey and singing the national anthem. I’m going to miss it, but I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and to every single person who has helped me along the way.
“It’s been unbelievable to play with such special people over the years and I will cherish the friendships I’ve made. I’m excited about this group of players coming through for Wales and what they can achieve in the future. I’m looking forward to supporting the boys from the stands.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the players, coaches and staff I’ve been fortunate to work alongside; to my family and friends who have been with me through all the ups and downs and to all the fans who have supported me throughout.
Diolch @scarlets_rugby ❤️ pic.twitter.com/n8jrd4G1zc
— Leigh Halfpenny (@LeighHalfpenny1) April 21, 2023
“To Jess and the girls, your support and love has meant everything and to be able to have Lily and Nora watch me play for Wales has been one of my proudest moments.
“Whilst I’ll be moving on from the international game, I’m excited about the next chapter as a player in this game which has given me so much and look forward to sharing details on my club future soon. Diolch.”
Halfpenny leaves the game as one of a select number of Wales men’s players to have reached a century of caps, sitting seventh on the all-time list. He also made four Test appearances for the British & Irish Lions across the 2013 and 2017 tours being named player of the series in 2013.
In an international career spanning 15 years, Halfpenny is third on the all-time list of men’s points scorers for Wales with 801, behind Neil Jenkins (1,049) and Stephen Jones (917), and will be hoping to add to that tally in his final outing in a red jersey against the Barbarians next weekend.
Wales senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland said: “Leigh has had a fantastic career for Wales, firstly on the wing and then at fifteen where he has been brilliant – probably the best defensive full-back in the world and a tremendous goal kicker.
“He’s had his fair share of injury challenges over the years but has never let that hold him back.
“If you are talking about role models in professional rugby, I don’t think you could find someone that works harder than Leigh in terms of how he prepares. The analysis, training and recovery he has done time and again has been really impressive, he is the ultimate professional.
Leigh Halfpenny played in three World Cups for Wales
“I’d like to thank Leigh for all he has done for Welsh rugby and wish him all the best for the future, I know his family and friends will be incredibly proud of all he has achieved.
“I look forward to watching him take to the field at Principality Stadium one final time in a red jersey on 4 November and I hope everyone will join me in celebrating him and Alun Wyn Jones at this match.”
Wales senior men’s international number 1060, Halfpenny was a graduate of the same Wales U20 team as future Grand Slam and British & Irish Lions team mates Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton and Rhys Webb. He helped Wales finish fourth at both the IRB U19 World Cup in Northern Ireland in 2007 and the inaugural World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Wales in 2008.
Having started playing rugby for Gorseinon, where his ex-RAF grandfather Malcolm took him from junior school for kicking practice, Halfpenny was originally a member of the Ospreys academy before he moved to the capital to sign for Cardiff Blues ahead of the 2007/08 season and played 19 times for Cardiff RFC, scoring 178 points, before making his regional debut at Ulster in May, 2008.
His senior Wales debut came on the wing against South Africa on 8 November 2008 while he was still a teenager. Halfpenny kicked a penalty in that game and marked his first Six Nations outing against Scotland in 2009 with a try and grabbed another in the 23-15 triumph over England.
He was the youngest player in the 37-strong squad selected for the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, but had his trip cut short through a thigh injury. He quickly recovered to establish himself as a key player in Warren Gatland’s Welsh side and he played in six of the seven games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Halfpenny’s magnificent goal kicking helped Wales to secure another Grand Slam in 2012 (66 points) and to hang on to the title the following year (74 points), when he was named as the ‘Player of the Tournament’.
He was selected for a second Lions tour in 2013 helping the tourists to a 2-1 series victory from full-back. He bettered Neil Jenkins’ Lions record for the most points in a Test Series with 49. He also broke the record for the most points in a Lions Test as he scored 21 in the third and final Test. In addition to being named Lions player of the series, Halfpenny was voted BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 2013 and was runner-up to Andy Murray for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year title.
He ended the tour with an 89% goal kicking success as he landed 40 out of 45 kicks. He was picked for a third Lions tour in 2017, making an appearance from the bench in the first Test to win his fourth Lions cap.
He scored two tries as Cardiff Blues won the Anglo-Welsh Cup at Twickenham in 2009 and grabbed another touchdown as they took the European Challenge Cup in Marseille a year later. He eventually left the Blues in 2014 to join Toulon. He won the Champions Cup with the French side at Twickenham in 2015, scoring 14 points in the win over a Clermont Auvergne side which included Wales international team mate Jonathan Davies.
Halfpenny was ruled out of the World Cup later that year after rupturing an anterior cruciate knee ligament. He returned to action for Wales 13 months later against Australia in the 2016 autumn series. He left Toulon in 2017 and returned to Wales with the Scarlets, playing for them in the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final defeat in Dublin by Leinster.
In 2021, in a Wales match against Canada, he earned his 96th cap for Wales and, with four Lions caps, his 100th international cap overall, but a knee injury in the first minute put him out of the game. His next appearance for Wales would be in the 2022 Autumn Nations series against Georgia as a replacement.
After featuring in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations against England in the third round and France in the final round of the Championship, Halfpenny was named in the training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 that included camps in Switzerland and Turkey. He was selected to play against England at Principality Stadium in the first warm up match ahead of the tournament, winning his 100th cap for Wales as the home side took victory.
In August 2023 Halfpenny was selected for his third Rugby World Cup, going on to make his 10th appearance in the global showpiece against Portugal on 16 September having previously represented Wales in the 2011 and 2019 tournaments.
