What did Leigh do Christmas Day? Practised his kicking

AS YOU – and I – sat back to enjoy our Christmas Day turkey or that extra slice of pudding, I doubt any of us even contemplated exercise or the thought of a training session.

And that’s what separates us from Wales’ rugby stars! The Welsh rugby grapevine always provides the odd nugget or two and it was no surprise to me when I found out Leigh Halfpenny was down at Gorseinon Rugby Club on Christmas Day for a kicking session. What a hero!

We all know that Leigh is one of the most dedicated players in world rugby. That – plus a great deal of skill – has made him into a Wales superstar and a three-time British & Irish Lion.

I remember Daley Thompson once said: “I train twice on Christmas Day because I know the others aren’t training at all. It gives me two extra days.” That’s clearly Leigh’s mantra too.

His attitude has made me feel particularly bad about my Christmas eating exertions!

On a serious note though, we should feel very lucky as Wales supporters to know the lengths our best players go to in their bid to be successful on the world stage.

Not everyone trains on Christmas Day and not everyone needs to.

But Leigh’s metronomic kicking at Principality Stadium doesn’t happen by accident, it’s the training sessions at places like Gorseinon – away from prying eyes – that make the difference on the big stage. For doing things like that, Leigh can only be applauded.

Hopefully he can be back to his best on the field very soon after his spell on the sidelines with concussion because, for me, he’s one of Wales’ best players.

His kicking wins game for us. It’s as simple as that and hopefully he can return to Gorseinon next Christmas Day having kicked Wales to World Cup glory.

Whatever happens, we certainly know Leigh won’t go to Japan under-prepared!