Halfpenny’s enthusiasm is admirable considering the stellar career he has had.
After making his Wales debut in 2008, he has gone on to become a great of European rugby, playing 101 times for his country and winning Six Nations Grand Slams in 2012 and 2019.
He played in three World Cups and also starred on the 2013 Lions tour of Australia, being named player of the series in a 2-1 series win.
Throughout these achievements, Halfpenny’s team-mates and coaches have always remarked how humble he has remained.
“I feel privileged to have had the opportunities I have had,” said Halfpenny.
“There are the ups and downs of playing with injury and things. As a kid, you grow up watching rugby and dreaming of being able to do that one day.
“I feel fortunate and privileged to have had the opportunities I have had.”
Halfpenny’s famous professionalism also remains intact. His fellow Wales international Wyn Jones has joined Harlequins at the same time and the pair will be living together for the first month in south-west London while they get settled.
Jones has already jokingly warned Halfpenny they will not be sharing lifts to training, with the full-back staying on an extra couple of hours after training to practise kicks at goal.
It is a trait Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson knows well.
“Leigh has been brought in for three reasons,” said Wilson.
“Firstly, his career goes before him in terms of what he’s done as a rugby player. He’s still got a huge amount to offer on the field as a rugby player and that’s his priority, he’ll be keen to get out there and prove himself.
“There are two other sides. What Leigh can add to our younger developing players coming through, what he can add to us as a coaching group, what he can add to us as a mentor.
“He’s one of the best, if not the best, defensive full-backs in world rugby, in terms of positional understanding and covering back-field spaces.
“The third part is he’s a model professional. Anyone who knows Leigh, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with him before, he’s still one of the best professionals you’ll come across. That’s a great example for our young players.”
