{"id":95090,"date":"2023-10-25T11:24:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T11:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=95090"},"modified":"2023-10-25T11:24:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T11:24:58","slug":"leigh-halfpenny-announces-international-retirement-after-101-caps-for-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/rugby\/leigh-halfpenny-announces-international-retirement-after-101-caps-for-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"Leigh Halfpenny announces international retirement after 101 caps for Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Leigh Halfpenny has announced he is to retire from international duty with Wales following the team\u2019s exit from the Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
Wales were knocked out by Argentina at the quarter-final stage, with Halfpenny\u2019s final appearance of the tournament coming in the pool-stage victory over Portugal.<\/p>\n
The full-back\u2019s last game for his country will be in next week\u2019s match against the Barbarians in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
His international retirement comes having won 101 caps, and with 801 points scored he is third in the all-time Welsh list behind Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones.<\/p>\n
In a statement, he said: \u201cAfter having time to reflect after the Rugby World Cup campaign, it\u2019s with a heavy heart that I\u2019ve decided it\u2019s time for me to step away from international rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision hasn\u2019t been easy, but the time feels right for me now and I look forward to running out one last time against the Barbarians at home next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a huge honour and a privilege to put on\u00a0 the Welsh jersey and represent my country over the last 15 years.\u201d<\/p>\n