A humble hero who never knew how good he was
Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny will leave a lasting legacy after announcing he will hang up his boots at the end of the season.
Leigh Halfpenny played for Cardiff, Scarlets, Toulon, Crusaders, Harlequins, Wales and the British and Irish Lions [Getty Images/Huw Evans Picture Agency] It's not often BBC Radio 1 come to the Scrum V desk looking for help lining up a guest. But news of Leigh Halfpenny's retirement at the end of this season has attracted widespread, and deserved, attention and acclaim. Second in the 2013 BBC Sports Personality of the Year behind Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, he was a British and Irish Lion whose appeal stretched way beyond the traditional image of a rugby player - youthful, almost boyband in look, he had a reach few in the game ever manage.
Halfpenny would have baulked at that description. No ego. No noise.
Just a quiet, consistent excellence that defined his 20-year career. Now fittingly, a quiet confirmation that he will retire at the end of the season aged 37. Because this is more than just another retirement.
Best defensive full-back the game has ever seen Back in 2008, a Wales Under-20s side went deep into the Junior World Championship and hinted at what was coming. Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies and Halfpenny were in that side. Grand Slams, titles and World Cup semi-finals.