British & Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny admits he cannot wait to kick-start his Toulon career next season as he begins his rehabilitation from a dislocated shoulder.
Halfpenny’s Cardiff Blues career is effectively over, having suffered the injury on Wales duty against England and subsequently undergoing surgery.
Next season however, he will join the current European champions, joining fellow 2013 Lions Mike Phillips, Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies in France.
And while Halfpenny admits he has brought the curtain down on his Blues career in far from ideal circumstances, he’s relishing the move to the Continent.
“I am extremely excited about it, I’m looking forward to going out there and experiencing a new way of life, a new culture, a new language, which I'm learning,” Halfpenny told Wales Online.
“It may take a while to settle in, but I know a lot of the guys at Toulon and they are a great group.“I’ve played with a few of them for the Barbarians, and against some of them plenty of times.
“I can’t wait to get started in pre-season with them all and to put that Toulon jersey on.
“But I’ll be extremely sad to say goodbye, the Blues have been fantastic with me.
“I’m just disappointed I won’t play on the Arms Park again, although who knows what will happen in the future.”
