Former Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has once again joined the national team's coaching staff on a temporary basis. The 37-year-old Lions legend was part of Matt Sherratt's interim staff in Japan last summer, overseeing kicking coaching for the two-Test series in Kitakyushu and Kobe.
Coaching Staff Developments
When Steve Tandy took over as Wales head coach for the following autumn, former Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell was brought in on secondment to work on Wales' kick strategy. Halfpenny returned to Cardiff for one final year as a player-coach. Patchell continued his role during the Six Nations before being hired by ex-Wales boss Wayne Pivac as attack coach at Benetton for next season. Halfpenny, meanwhile, hung up his boots at the end of the current campaign, with his next move likely in coaching.
Permanent Roles Under Consideration
Wales are currently searching for a permanent kicking coach and an attacking skills coach. Halfpenny is understood to have applied for the former. Whether he gets the role remains to be seen, but Tandy has brought him into camp on an interim basis ahead of the Nations Championship fixtures against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa. Having gone through his first two campaigns with just two permanent assistant coaches in Sherratt and Danny Wilson, Tandy's coaching staff is taking shape.
New Appointments and Applicants
New defence coach Pete Murchie joined the squad ahead of this summer's campaign, while Dan Lydiate was hired full-time after working on secondment from the Dragons. Paul James was appointed as the new scrum coach ahead of the Barbarians match. The remaining vacancies are for a permanent kicking coach and attacking skills coach. James Hook and Scott Sneddon are believed to have applied alongside Halfpenny. T. Rhys Thomas had been lined up for the skills coach role but will not join Wales' staff. Cardiff coach Jonny Goodridge has been mentioned, with the job believed to have shifted focus to the backs.
Last week, Tandy stated that full-time hires were unlikely before the summer.
