Leigh Halfpenny has been appointed as Wales' interim kicking coach for the Nations Championship, joining Steve Tandy's expanding backroom team for July Tests against Fiji, Argentina and the Springboks.

The 101-cap Welsh fullback, who retired from professional rugby earlier this year, previously worked with the national setup under Matt Sherratt during last year's Japan tour and with the Wales U20s in 2022. He follows prop Paul James onto Tandy's staff for the three-Test series.

Wales open the Nations Championship against Fiji on 4 July at Cardiff City Stadium, before travelling to San Juan to face Argentina on 11 July. Their Springbok fixture is the third match of the campaign.

Halfpenny described the appointment as "a huge honour" and expressed a desire to continue developing as a coach, while Tandy highlighted the specific benefit his experience would bring to Wales' younger backs.