Halfpenny will take to the field for Wales against Australia, in the final Dove Men Series clash of 2013, on Saturday as his national side attempt to repeat the heroics of the successful British & Irish Lions tour against the same opponents last summer.
The Cardiff Blues full-back has already been named ‘Lions Player of the Series’ after playing every minute of every Test and kicking a record 21 point haul in the deciding third match 41-16 win of the historic tour.
Before that, he picked up the player of the tournament award in the RBS 6 Six Nations Championship, as his 74 points helped Wales retain the title and was, just last month, named as ‘Player of the Year’ at the prestigious Oscars du Rugby awards ceremony hosted by French rugby magazine Midi Olympique.
He has also been shortlisted for the IRB Player of the year award – the only British player on a 5-man shortlist (Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales and British and Irish Lions), Sergio Parisse (Italy), Kieran Read (New Zealand) and Ben Smith (New Zealand)).
Halfpenny said: “It’s incredibly hard to explain my excitement at being nominated for BBC SPOTY 2013. This year has been what can only be described as a dream come true for me. Rugby has been my absolute passion since I was very young so to be recognised for my achievements in this manner is truly overwhelming.
“To be named alongside people I regard as sporting legends seems completely surreal and incredibly humbling. Whilst I always dreamed of representing my country and the British and Irish Lions, I still can’t believe I am where I am today.”
Wales Head coach Warren Gatland also added his praise: “Leigh has had a fantastic year and has been part of some memorable teams and performances. He works incredibly hard to reach the standards he sets and he fully deserves this award.”
He is joined on the BBC shortlist by athletes Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Hannah Cockroft, tennis star Andy Murray, cyclist Chris Froome, golfer Justin Rose, sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, jockey AP McCoy and cricketer Ian Bell.
The public will vote for their favourite on Sunday, December 15.
Voting for the main award will be by phone and, for the first time, online during the programme, which will be presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan.
In front of an expected 12,000 crowd at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, the latest name to join an illustrious roll of honour will be announced.
With an array of candidates to choose from, an expert panel faced some difficult choices finalising the shortlist.
Ainslie helped mastermind an America’s Cup sailing victory, Bell won cricket’s Ashes with England, and there were World Championship doubles for athletes Cockroft (wheelchair racing) and Farah (5,000m and 10,000m).
Froome ruled in cycling’s Tour de France, Halfpenny starred in the British and Irish Lions’ triumphant tour of Australia and McCoy rode an unprecedented 4,000th winner.
Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s singles winner, Ohuruogu regained her world 400m title and Rose secured his maiden golf major at the US Open.
In addition to the main prize, there will also be seven other awards:
Team of the Year
Coach of the Year
Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
Young Sports Personality of the Year
Sports Personality of the Year Diamond Award
Helen Rollason Award
Sports Unsung Hero
Three former Sports Personality nominees were on an expert panel which decided the shortlist – and the winner will be decided by the public vote on the night.
Baroness Grey-Thompson, Dame Kelly Holmes and Marcus Trescothick were joined by Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, and representatives from the BBC and the newspaper industry.
The panel was put together following criticism of an all-male list decided via a different method in 2011.
For more details on voting terms and conditions, click here.
Sports Personality of the Year 2013 shortlist expert panel:
Sports Personality of the Year trophy
Director of BBC Sport – Barbara Slater (Chair)
BBC head of TV Sport – Philip Bernie
Executive editor of BBC Sports Personality of the Year – Carl Doran
From BBC Radio 5 live – Mark Pougatch (presenter, 5 live Sport)
Three newspaper sports editors (to be rotated annually) – in 2013, Alison Kervin (Mail on Sunday), Adam Sills (Daily Telegraph), Dominic Hart (Mirror)
A multi-sport broadcaster/journalist – Sue Barker
Three former Sports Personality nominees (to be appointed annually) – in 2013, Baroness Grey-Thompson , Dame Kelly Holmes and Marcus Trescothick
Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport
