Cardiff and Halfpenny 'helping each other out'

Cardiff say they are helping former Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny return to full fitness after he was spotted at training with the Arms Park side.

Halfpenny, 36, was pictured in Cardiff training kit during a training session with Worcester.

The former British and Irish Lions full-back left Harlequins at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Halfpenny was given a kicking coach role by Wales during the summer tour of Japan where he worked in the backroom staff of interim boss Matt Sherratt, who is the Cardiff coach.

"I worked with Leigh in Japan," said Sherratt.

"He's got a big affinity to Cardiff because it was his first club and he's trying to get into coaching.

"He's carrying a little bit of a niggle at the moment, so I've asked him to come in and we can get him up to speed and get him fit."

Halfpenney played for Cardiff RFC and Cardiff Blues between 2007 and 2014 before moving to Toulon.

Sherratt said he was happy to help the player who also had a spell at Scarlets: "He deserves that for what he's done for Welsh rugby and being a former Cardiff player.

"Then, whilst he's doing that, he's been great in working with some of our young players and kickers to develop their goal-kicking and kicking out of hand.

"So we're helping Leigh out and he's helping us out. It's great to have him around."

Halfpenny is not the only Wales full-back who has been training at Cardiff with Liam Williams, 34, also taking part in sessions at the Arms Park while he tries to prolong his career by recovering from his latest knee injury.

Cardiff do have back three concerns with Wales wing Mason Grady suffering another injury, after only just returning from a 10-month lay-off because of a knee problem.

This time Grady, 23, damaged his shoulder in his comeback match as Cardiff hammered Richmond 71-10.

"It's a shoulder injury, but we'll have to assess it in the next 24-48 hours," said Sherratt.

"Fingers crossed it's ok because Mason deserves a bit of luck. He's had a tough 18 months so let's hope that he's ok.

"You learn in this game that until you have a good look at it, you don't know.

"I'm hoping that it's not as bad as it looks and we get a scan that is low grade. Until we have a look at it, I don't want to get too downbeat."

Cardiff have another pre-season game against Leinster before opening the United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign at home to South Africa side Lions on Saturday, 27 September.