Christian Leali'ifano, born on 24 September 1987, is an Australian rugby union player of Samoan heritage. He primarily plays as an inside centre or fly-half.
Leali'ifano currently represents Moana Pasifika in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Leali'ifano's rugby journey began in Auckland, New Zealand, before his family moved to Melbourne, Australia when he was seven years old. He played rugby union for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2004 and 2005.
He joined the Brumbies rugby academy program in 2006 and represented the Australian Under 19 and Under 21 rugby teams. In 2006, he played fly-half for the Australian Under 19 team that won the IRB World Championship.
Leali'ifano signed with the Brumbies on a rookie contract in 2007. He made his Super Rugby debut in 2008 and initially played as a fly-half before transitioning to inside centre.
He suffered a knee injury in 2010 but recovered to play for Waikato in the ITM Cup and continued to feature for the Brumbies in subsequent seasons. In 2012, he earned recognition as the Man of the Match in eight out of ten Super Rugby games before suffering a broken ankle.
In August 2016, Leali'ifano was diagnosed with leukemia after the Super Rugby season. He underwent a bone marrow transplant and made a remarkable recovery.
In 2017, he signed for Ulster on a loan deal and continued his professional rugby career. Leali'ifano returned to the Brumbies in 2018 as co-captain and made significant contributions to the team. He has also played for various clubs in Japan, including Toyota Industries and the Shining Arcs.
Leali'ifano has represented the Australian national team, the Wallabies, earning test caps and scoring points. He participated in the Rugby Championship and World Cup squads.
After the World Cup, he announced his retirement from international rugby. Leali'ifano joined Moana Pasifika in 2021 for the Super Rugby Pacific season, marking a new chapter in his career.
Ahead of the World Rugby Cup 2023, Leali'ifano has been named in the squad for Samoa.
KG(05/07/2023)
Career
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Rugby FC Los Angeles Fly Half |
2024 - present |
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Canberra Vikings Inside Centre |
2014 - 2016 |
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World XV Fly Half |
2015 - 2016 |
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Tokyo Sungoliath Inside Centre |
2016 - 2016 |
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Ulster Rugby Fly Half |
2017 - 2018 |
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Toyota Verblitz Fly Half |
2018 - 2018 |
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Toyota Industries Shuttles Fly Half |
2018 - 2018 |
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ACT Brumbies Inside Centre |
2008 - 2019 |
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Australia Inside Centre |
2013 - 2019 |
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Urayasu D-Rocks Inside Centre |
2020 - 2021 |
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Samoa Fly Half |
2023 - 2024 |
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Moana Pasifika Rugby Fly Half |
2021 - 2024 |
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Auckland Fly Half |
2024 - 2024 |
