Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WASPS v ULSTER HIGHS & LOWS AS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS ON..
It’s been emotional but Aussie ace has got one more box left to tick
CHRISTIAN LEALIIFANO hopes his long goodbye as an Ulster player ends on a Euro high at the Ricoh Stadium tomorrow.
The Aussie, who leaves to play Super Rugby for the Brumbies next week, found himself chuckling as he spoke for the final time at the Kingspan Stadium this week.
“Is this definitely your last game?” asked one wag, more in wry hope than expectation.
The room rippled with laughter, yet beyond the levity lies a wider regret the 19-times capped Wallaby won’t be staying until the end of the season.
“This place is going to be special to me for a long time,” said Lealiifano, who joined Ulster on a short contract in August.
“I know I’ve only been here a short time, but the impact people have had on me and my family and the memories I have from here is something I’ll cherish for a long time.” Lealiifano’s emotional attachment to Ulster shone through last week when his eyes welled up walking off the pitch during his final home game against La Rochelle.
“I was a bit overwhelmed and I wanted a moment to myself, but the cameras found a way to follow me,” he said.
“I didn’t want it to be about me but the reception was amazing. The send-off I got was something I’ll never forget.
“It’s been really humbling. It’s been a sort of sad week, counting the days until you won’t be around here anymore.”
The impact Lealiifano – still only 11 months in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016 – has made in his time with Les Kiss’s (inset) team is little short of miraculous.
“I feel in a really good space,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d play to the level that I have. To be able to tick those boxes in terms of my health and rugby has been an absolute bonus.”
Yet the seasoned flyhalf has one more box to tick in his final game. A win over Wasps tomorrow would secure Ulster their first European quarter-final in four years.
He said: “Ideally, it would be nice to get us through in Europe and set the team up to move forward in a good place.”
Is there any chance we might see him in an Ulster shirt in the future? Never say never is the mantra of a man who has loved his time at the Kingspan.
“It is something I’ll definitely look to explore in the future,” he said.
“Whether those opportunities arise again, you never know, But hopefully, one day.”