Leigh Halfpenny, one of the greats of Welsh rugby, has announced his retirement from the game at the age of 37.
‘Pence’ as he is affectionately known, played 58 matches for the Scarlets after arriving from French giants Toulon in 2017.
He was an integral member of the squad that reached the Champions Cup semi-final and PRO14 final in Dublin in his first season with the club and went on to amass 526 points during his time in Llanelli.
Often described as ‘the ultimate professional’, Leigh was a hugely popular figure with the Scarlets faithful, as well as an inspirational role model to the young supporters and players.
He will be remembered as one of the finest goal-kickers the game has seen and an instrumental figure in Wales’s success under Warren Gatland.
Part of a Wales side that won the 2012 Grand Slam, three Six Nations titles and reached two World Cup semi-finals, Leigh ended his international career with 101 caps and 801 points, third only in the roll of honour to Scarlets great Stephen Jones and Neil Jenkins.
He also toured with the British & Irish Lions to South Africa in 2009, Australia in 2013 (when he was named player of the series against the Wallabies) and New Zealand in 2017.
As well as five seasons with the Scarlets, Leigh’s club career spanned spells with Cardiff (twice), Toulon, New Zealand side Crusaders and Harlequins.
Announcing his retirement, he said: “I’ll always be thankful to the Scarlets, where I spent six amazing years of my career after returning home to Wales. It’s a club with so much passion and identity and I loved being part of it. It’s a chapter I’ll always treasure.”