Christian Lealiifano signs on with Australian Rugby and Brumbies for two more years

Jan 25 • General News, Super Rugby • 1314 Views • Comments Off on Christian Lealiifano signs on with Australian Rugby and Brumbies for two more years

Qantas Wallabies playmaker Christian Lealiifano has today inked a new two-year deal with the Australia Rugby Union and the Brumbies.

The flexible contract will see the 16-Test utility remain with the Brumbies until at least the end of 2018, while enabling him to take up an option to play in Japan for the 2016/17 and 17/18 seasons.

The 28-year-old is currently the second-highest point scorer in Brumbies history with 635 points and is the eighth most-capped player in the team’s history with 101 Super Rugby caps.

The gifted and versatile inside back made his debut for the Wallabies in 2013 against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane, before going on to feature in The Rugby Championship and Spring Tour that same year where he notched a career-high 20 points in a clash with Wales at Millennium Stadium.

Lealiifano said he was pleased to have his future sorted ahead of the 2016 Asteron Life Super Rugby season.

“The Brumbies have shown a lot of faith in me over the last nine years and I’m pleased we have been able to sort everything out so I can stay,” he said.

“By 2018 I will have been in Canberra for 12 years, so this is very much home for me. Working with Stephen Larkham I feel like my game has improved, so to have two more years to work with this coaching staff and the rest of the playing group is very exciting.”

Of Lealiifano’s 16 Test appearances, 14 have come in the starting lineup at inside centre. His last outing in the gold jersey came in Paris in a 29-26 defeat to France on the 2014 Spring Tour.

Christian Lealiifano
Wallaby #868
DOB: 24/9/1987
Position: Inside Centre/Flyhalf
Height: 179cm
Weight: 95kg
Born: Auckland, New Zealand

Wallabies Test Debut: 2013 v British & Irish Lions, Brisbane
Wallabies Test Caps: 16
Wallabies Test Points: 124 (1t, 13c, 31p)

Super Rugby Debut: 2008 v Crusaders, Christchurch
Super Rugby Caps: 101
Super Rugby Points: 635 (12t, 88c, 131p, 2dg)