“We’d arranged for three buses to go up to Cardiff next week to watch the game against Canada because we reckoned that was the most likely game for Leigh to play in,” said Gorseinon secretary Alan Powell.
“But now he has been chosen to win his first cap this weekend we are desperately trying to find more tickets and more buses. Everyone from the club wants to be there to support him.
“He is the first Welsh cap produced by the club since Norman Gale in the sixties and we are enormously proud of him.”
Halfpenny, like fellow Welsh Squad member Dan Biggar, played for Gorseinon from Under 10 to Under 16 level. He and Biggar won Wales Under 16 caps from the club before heading into the Ospreys Academy.
Both players represented Wales Under 20 this summer’s IRB Junior World Championship and the next step is to join forces in the full Welsh side.
“This is the 125th anniversary season for Gorseinon and this is a great way for us to celebrate our contribution to the game in Wales,” added Powell.
“We are very proud of all the internationals we have produced – Jim Lang, Lewis Jones, Len Blythe, Onllwyn Brace and Norman Gale – and Leigh will be joining an illustrious band.
“He is from the town and is regularly at the club. Last month, when the Blues weren’t playing, he came and took a 1st XV training session with our head coach Rob Steele. Rob nurtured Leigh and Dan through the junior ranks and is now coaching the senior side.
“Many of the players that are playing for us in Division 2 West now grew up with Leigh and Dan and they all loved seeing him back at the club. He is such a shy and unassuming young man, but he is a wonderful player and fierce competitor once he is on the field.
“We had no doubt he had the talent to go all the way, even when the Ospreys decided they didn’t want to keep him. Now he has got the chance to prove himself against the reigning world champions.”
Halfpenny scored 52 points in five outings for Wales Under 20 in this year’s Junior World Championship having been the leading points scorer with 57 at the IRB Under 19 World Championships in Belfast in 2007.
“Lewis Jones was capped for Wales as an 18-year-old and now Leigh is following in his footsteps as a 19-year-old. It is fantastic for Leigh and great for Gorseinon rugby club,” said Powell.
