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The Welsh Rugby Union has made “the best offer it can” to bring Leigh Halfpenny home
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The Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back’s contract expires at the end of the season
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Toulon want to keep Halfpenny while Aviva Premiership sides are also monitoring his situation
Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips has revealed that the ‘best possible’ offer has been made to bring Leigh Halfpenny home.
The former Cardiff Blues full-back has spent the last three seasons in France playing for Toulon, winning the Champions Cup in his first season.
Halfpenny’s contract with the three-time European champions ran for two seasons with an option of a third, an extension he took up after missing the majority of last season through injury.
Now the WRU hope to bring Halfpenny back to Wales on a National Dual Contract – a deal where the WRU pay 60 percent of the salary.
“Any way you want to look at it, on the pitch he’s a match-winner and he is an ambassador for Welsh rugby. He is a hell of a nice guy,” Phillips told the Press Association.
“You would want him in your mix, not at a distance. He is somebody we think a lot of. We have made him the best offer we possibly can.
“Obviously, we all hope he comes back (to Wales), but he is his own man, and I respect his decision. I am sure there is a bit of head and heart for him to go through. It’s difficult. We have all been in those positions.
“Clearly, I hope he does come back, but if he doesn’t, I understand that.
“Obviously, the clock is now ticking, and there is a point at which certainly Toulon would need some certainty.
“The reality is we can pick him (for Wales) anyway, but I am sure Leigh knows that some time in the next couple of weeks he has got to make a call on it.”