Christian Pharaoh Leali'ifano (born 24 September 1987) is a professional rugby union player who most recently played for Japanese team Toyota Shuttles in Japan Rugby League One, Division Two. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds, having previously played over twenty-five times for Australia between 2013 and 2019.
Early life Leali'ifano was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia when he was seven years old. He attended Epping Primary School and Peter Lalor Secondary College.RA & the private schoolboy image ABC News 14 June 2023 He played rugby union for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2004 and 2005.
Leali'ifano joined the Brumbies rugby academy program in 2006. Later that year he was selected for the Australian Under 19 and Under 21 rugby teams. He played fly-half for the Australian Under 19 rugby team that won the IRB World Championship in 2006.
Club career
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.
Leali'ifano made his Super Rugby debut in 2008 against the Crusaders in Christchurch. He played fly-half in 2008 and 2009, before shifting to inside centre when Matt Giteau returned to the Brumbies in 2010. 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, 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. 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.
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.
For the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season he has signed with the Moana Pasifika franchise.
On 7 May 2022 in a game against the Waratahs, Leali'ifano became the 7th player to reach 1,000 Super Rugby points.
International career 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.
In August 2019, Leali'ifano was named in the Wallabies squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. He played in four matches, including the quarter-final loss against England.
In June 2023, Leali'ifano was named in a 40-man Manu Samoa squad in preparation for the World Cup, after eligibility rules set by World Rugby allowed players to switch allegiance.
In August 2023, Leali'ifano was named in the 32-man Manu Samoa squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Personal life 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.
Career statistics Club summary
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red 2008 13 13 0 1040 2 0 0 0 10 1 0 2009 9 9 0 712 4 0 0 2 26 0 0 2010 6 6 0 466 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 2011 14 12 2 937 2 0 1 0 13 1 0 2012 10 10 0 788 0 17 25 0 109 0 0 2013 18 18 0 1393 4 22 58 0 238 0 0 2014 13 10 3 904 0 12 15 0 69 0 0 2015 18 18 0 1419 4 33 28 0 170 0 0 2016 16 16 0 1267 3 41 22 0 163 0 02022Moana Pasifika871541011704310Total 117 112 5 8926 20 125 149 2 803 3 0
References
External links
Wallabies Profile