KICKING king Leigh Halfpenny has expressed his joy at returning to international rugby after more than a year out through injury.

Halfpenny made his Test match comeback in the autumn series opener against Australia and then kicked 14 points on Saturday as Wales beat Argentina.

The 32-8 loss to the Wallabies wasn’t the result the full-back would have been hoping for, but just being in a Wales jersey again gladdened his heart no end.

Some 14 months earlier, the Toulon star ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligaments during the friendly victory over Italy in Cardiff.

That ruled him out of the World Cup, this year’s RBS 6 Nations and the summer tour to New Zealand – but the 27-year-old is back and loving playing in the international arena once more.

“I am loving being back on the field again and playing in this magnificent stadium is a great feeling,” he said after the 24-20 defeat of the Pumas at the Principality Stadium.

“It has been an incredibly enjoyable experience to be back playing international rugby.

“I have said that during my injury I missed it massively and I feel really privileged to be back out there playing with the guys in a red jersey again.”

He added: “It has taken time from the injury to get back into the rhythm and playing.

“I think there is still room for improvement, but I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

“I am loving being back on the pitch with the guys, they have made it really easy for me to come back into the squad, they have been fantastic.”

Halfpenny made his senior Wales debut at the age of 19 in a 20-15 loss to South Africa in November 2008.

And his experience of playing on the big stage as a teenager could come in handy should Keelan Giles get the nod for this Saturday’s clash with Japan.

Ospreys wing Giles, who is 18, is being tipped to make the matchday squad after a string of impressive try-scoring displays for his region this season.

“Keelan is doing well,” said Halfpenny. “He has put in some fantastic performances for the Ospreys and is a huge talent.

“He is a Gorseinon boy (like Halfpenny). I remember seeing him play one Sunday morning with the club’s mini side, under-8s or 9s I think, and you could see there was something there, he had a lot of gas then.”

Asked what advice he would give to a young debutant, he continued: “From my experience, I remember the guys in the squad just made it so easy for me to come in and feel comfortable, helped me with the calls and just said go out and enjoy it, and I think that is what you have got to do.

“You dream of moments like that as a kid, to pull that Welsh jersey on, you have just got to enjoy it.

“It is amazing how quick time goes. It only felt like yesterday that I was the young kid coming in, but I have loved every second of it.

“I am just looking to keep enjoying it and keep on learning.”