Christian Lealiifano has brought a ray of sunshine to a bleak season

Three years after he was diagnosed with leukaemia, Christian Lealiifano’s comeback has been the inspiring story rugby needs after a season dominated by the damaging Israel Folau saga.

Christian Lealiifano with the Dan Vickerman Cup. Picture: Getty

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In daring to dream, Christian Lealiifano has become the inspiration rugby needs right now.

In a season where the game’s been dragged through the mud because of the Israel Folau row, the veteran Brumbies’ five-eighth has provided one of the few rays of hope through his remarkable comeback.

Three years after he was diagnosed with leukaemia, Lealiifano is living his football fantasy; captaining the leading Australian team in Super Rugby and being recalled to the Wallabies’ World Cup training squad.

“When I returned, it was just about getting back on the footy field and I thought that was a massive achievement,” Lealiifano told Rugby Central.

Christian Lealiifano with the Dan Vickerman Cup. Picture: Getty

“Then the challenge from there was to be as good as I could be. I still think I’ve got more improvement in me but it’s been good to play some quality, consistent footy.”

Lealiifano’s performances haven’t got unnoticed or unrewarded. He played the last of his 19 Tests before his diagnosis, but got an email from Michael Cheika last month asking him to join the expanded Australian training squad.

And after a slow start to the season where his side lost three of their first four games, the Brumbies are now all but assured of a spot in the playoffs.

Rugby was the least of Lealiifano’s priorities when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Since then, he’s undergone chemotherapy, had a bone-marrow transparent and has been in remission for two years.

Armed with a new perspective, he decided to aim high when he came back.

“I don’t know if I ever thought that I wouldn’t get back but the motivating factor was to be the best I could,” he said.

“To be in a Wallaby camp again, that’s something that I’m really proud of because it’s recognition of hard work and all the support I’ve had but it doesn’t stop there. I have to keep improving and we’ve got some big goals at the Brumbies.”

One of those is winning the Super Rugby title, something that has eluded Lealiifano since he made his debut for the club in 2008, but this year could be the 31-year-old’s best chance.

Despite losing David Pocock to a nagging calf injury, the Brumbies are sitting five points clear at the top of the Australian conference standings with only Saturday’s match away to the Waratahs then a home game against the Reds to come.

Lealiifano has his eye on Super Rugby’s top prize. Picture: Getty

“David hasn’t been able to play much but his contributions off the field have been massive and that’s what this club is all about,” Lealiifano said.

“I would love to win for the Brumbies because they’ve given me so much to me and my family.

“They’ve supported me through so much in my life and I've turned from a boy to a man in this place.”

The Brumbies are the only Australian side to have beaten the Waratahs this year and have made a habit of knocking over their traditional rivals in recent seasons, winning five of their past encounters, by maximising the strengths of their maul and by cleverly varying their tactics.

“The group is feeling really confident but not in an arrogant way,” Lealiifano said.

“The history and the tradition of these games is massive because everyone always gets themselves up for the local derby.

“We know the quality of the side that they are but at the end of the day you always want the bragging rights.”

HISTORY OF DOMINANCE

2019 — Brumbies 19 Waratahs 13 (Canberra)

2018 — Brumbies 40 Waratahs 31 (Sydney)

2018 — Waratahs 24 Brumbies 17 (Canberra)

2017 — Brumbies 28 Waratahs 12 (Sydney)

2016 — Brumbies 26 Waratahs 20 (Sydney)

2016 — Brumbies 32 Waratahs 15 (Canberra)

Originally published as Christian Lealiifano has brought a ray of sunshine to a bleak season