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Christian Leali'ifano

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Christian Leali'ifano
Leali'ifano representing ACT Brumbies during Super Rugby
Full nameChristian Pharaoh Leali'ifano
Date of birth (1987-09-24) 24 September 1987 (age 37)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
SchoolPeter Lalor Secondary College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Centre
Current team Moana Pasifika
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007 Canberra Vikings 6 (10)
2008–2019 ACT Brumbies 150 (963)
2010 Waikato 11 (5)
2014–2015 Canberra Vikings 10 (90)
2016–2017 → Ulster (loan) 17 (47)
2019 Toyota Shuttles 9 (5)
2020 NTT Shining Arcs 6 (41)
2022– Moana Pasifika 29 (146)
2024 Auckland 2 (13)
Correct as of 6 November 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006 Australia U19 5 (10)
2006 Australia U21 4 (3)
2013–2019 Australia 26 (171)
2023– Samoa 9 (49)
Correct as of 18 May 2024

Christian Pharaoh Leali'ifano (born 24 September 1987) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Super Rugby club Moana Pasifika. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds,[1][2] having previously played over twenty-five times for Australia between 2013 and 2019.

Early life

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Leali'ifano was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia when he was seven years old.[3] He attended Epping Primary School and Peter Lalor Secondary College.[4] He played rugby union for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2004 and 2005.[5]

Leali'ifano joined the Brumbies rugby academy program in 2006.[5] Later that year he was selected for the Australian Under 19 and Under 21 rugby teams.[6][7] He played fly-half for the Australian Under 19 rugby team that won the IRB World Championship in 2006.[5]

Club career

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Lealiifano in 2013

In 2007, Leali'ifano signed with the Brumbies on a rookie contract. He played for the Australian Sevens rugby team, and for the Canberra Vikings in the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007.[6][8]

Leali'ifano made his Super Rugby debut in 2008 against the Crusaders in Christchurch.[1] He played fly-half in 2008 and 2009, before shifting to inside centre when Matt Giteau returned to the Brumbies in 2010.[3] Leali'ifano played six Super 14 games for the Brumbies in 2010 before being sidelined with a knee injury (rupture to his posterior cruciate). He recovered by July to play in the ITM Cup for Waikato in 2010,[1] and he played fourteen matches for the Brumbies in 2011.

In 2012, Leali'ifano was named Man of the Match by Super Rugby officials for eight out of the ten Super Rugby games he played.[1] Unfortunately, he suffered a broken ankle in his tenth game which ended his season and any chance of being selected for the Wallabies in 2012.[1]

In August 2017, after successful treatment for leukaemia, Leali'ifano signed for Irish Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster on a 5-month loan deal.[9]

For the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season he has signed with the Moana Pasifika franchise.[10]

On 7 May 2022 in a game against the Waratahs, Leali'ifano became the 7th player to reach 1,000 Super Rugby points.[11]

International career

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Leali'ifano's test debut for the Wallabies lasted less than one minute. On 22 June 2013, he was knocked out attempting to tackle the British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies in Brisbane.[12]

Personal life

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In August 2016, two weeks after the Brumbies were knocked out of the Super Rugby finals, Leali'ifano was diagnosed with leukaemia. He has resumed playing after receiving a bone marrow transplant, and in 2017 signed for Ulster, who play in the Pro14, on loan. He has signed with the Moana Pasifika for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.[10]

Career statistics

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Club summary

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As of 22 July 2016[13]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2008 Brumbies 13 13 0 1040 2 0 0 0 10 1 0
2009 Brumbies 9 9 0 712 4 0 0 2 26 0 0
2010 Brumbies 6 6 0 466 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
2011 Brumbies 14 12 2 937 2 0 1 0 13 1 0
2012 Brumbies 10 10 0 788 0 17 25 0 109 0 0
2013 Brumbies 18 18 0 1393 4 22 58 0 238 0 0
2014 Brumbies 13 10 3 904 0 12 15 0 69 0 0
2015 Brumbies 18 18 0 1419 4 33 28 0 170 0 0
2016 Brumbies 16 16 0 1267 3 41 22 0 163 0 0
2022 Moana Pasifika 8 7 1 541 0 11 7 0 43 1 0
Total 117 112 5 8926 20 125 149 2 803 3 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Brumbies Profile: Christian Lealiifano". Brumbies. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Christian Lealiifano". RUGBY.com.au. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Bret (17 February 2012). "Christian Lealiifano will take some time before signing a new contract". The Australian.
  4. ^ RA & the private schoolboy image ABC News 14 June 2023
  5. ^ a b c Ceddia, Adrian (2 May 2006). "Union world at Christian's feet". Whittlesea-Mernda-Doreen Star. Star News. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Lealiifano re-signs with ACT Brumbies" (Press release). Titan Management. 5 September 2007.
  7. ^ ARU (22 May 2006). "Australian U21s selected for 2006 IRB World Championships" (Press release). Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013.
  8. ^ Brumbies Media Unit (20 March 2012). "Lealiifano ready to take on the Highlanders" (Press release). Brumbies. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Pro14: Ulster sign Australia fly-half Christian Lealiifano on five-month deal". BBC Sport. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Moana Pasifika community celebrates historic first Super Rugby squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Super Rugby Pacific: Christian Leali'ifano passes 1000 points in Moana Pasifika's loss to Waratahs". Newshub. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Wallabies Lealiifano, Barnes injured in first half". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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