Lealiifano, Christian

Christian Lealiifano (pron: lee-ah-lee-far-no) stamped himself as a rising star of Australian rugby in 2007. Despite limited chances during the Investec Super 14, Lealiifano made the most of his rugby opportunities outside of the provincial tournament to assert himself as a player to watch. In May he was called into the Australian Sevens squad alongside CA Brumbies team mate Anthony Faingaa for the final two tournaments of the year in London and Edinburgh. The 20-year-old pivot then returned to the ACT to guide Tuggeranong to a finals appearance and take up his place as starting flyhalf for the Navy Canberra Vikings in the inaugural Mazda Australian Rugby Championship (ARC). Lealiifano, who extended his rookie contract for 2008, rose to the challenge of the Mazda ARC with two man-of-the-match performances and took control of the Navy Canberra Vikings’ young backline with his organisational play belying his tender age.

Born in Auckland, Lealiifano attended Melbourne’s Peter Lalor Secondary College where he represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2004 and 2005. On leaving school he played for the Northcote club and won selection in the 2005/2006 Australian Sevens squad as an 18 year old, but did not make his debut in the international abridged version until 2007. In 2006 he joined the Brumbies Academy and went on to represent the Australian Under 19’s in their World Championship win in Dubai and the Australian Under 21’s in France. Lealiifano returned to guide Tuggeranong to a premiership alongside his Under 21’s team mates Julian Salvi and John Ulugia and take up his rookie contract with the CA Brumbies for the 2007 season.