Leigh Halfpenny: The unassuming Welsh rugby great who has hung up his boots

In 2008, Wales’ Under-20 team went deep into the Junior World Championships and gave hints of what was to come. Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies and Halfpenny were also in that side.

Grand Slams, championships and World Cup semi-finals. Best team in the world for a while.

They left one by one. Halfpenny is the last one.

The numbers are strong. He made around 101 appearances, with 801 points – third behind Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones – but those don’t quite describe him.

He was modest, almost shy, and the last person to seek recognition.

Still the person everyone trusts.

Nobody has a bad word to say about him. This is rare in this game.

Former Wales coach Warren Gatland described him as the best full-back the game has ever seen. At his peak he was arguably the best full-back for the British and Irish Lions, particularly in 2013. Full stop.