Having arrived in the Welsh capital at the start of the season as kicking coach, Halfpenny had signed a short-term contract with the aim of returning to competition after a long recovery from a calf injury. Now fully fit, he has extended his commitment to Cardiff in a hybrid player-coach role, and could even be named on Saturday night against Ulster at the Arms Park.

His last game for Cardiff dated back to 2014, before his move to Toulon, which is 4,347 days since his last outing in the colours of the “Blue and Blacks”. Between 2007 and 2014, Halfpenny played 87 matches for Cardiff, scoring 568 points and playing his part in the club’s successes in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the European Challenge Cup.

His career then took him to Toulon, the Scarlets, the Crusaders in New Zealand and then Harlequins in England, before he began to take on coaching responsibilities, notably with the Wales staff as kicking coach on the 2025 tour of Japan.

This return to European pitches is a powerful symbol of longevity for one of the most experienced players in international rugby.