Good luck, Lealiifano

[rowan]

Good luck to this fellow:

Australian international Christian Lealiifano is set to undergo a bone marrow transplant next month as he continues his recovery from leukemia, and remains hopeful of returning to play rugby at some level.

Lealiifano, a playmaking utility back who played 16 tests for the Wallabies and was co-captain of the Canberra-based Brumbies, has had two rounds of chemotherapy since being diagnosed with the cancer in August, soon after his involvement in Australia's series loss to England.

"Luckily enough for me my younger sister is a match," Lealiifano told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday, referring to the transplant. "For the family, that is quite a special thing and for your sister to give you the gift of trying to save your life, it's quite special.

"I've had two treatments of chemotherapy which have pretty much put me in remission going into this transplant."

More here: http://sobserver.ws/en/14_10_2016/sport ... -month.htm

[Len]

Is in remission now and is eyeing a comeback.

Awesome news.

[rowan]

Yes, excellent news - for a change. Got a link?

[zer0]

ACT Brumbies co-captain Christian Lealiifano is in remission.

It's the news rugby fans across the world have been waiting to hear since the former Wallaby received a shock leukaemia diagnosis last August.

Saturday marked 100 days since Lealiifano's successful bone-marrow transplant in Melbourne...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/inte ... transplant

[Mellsblue]

Finally, some good news. About bloody time.

[rowan]

ACT Brumbies co-captain Christian Lealiifano is in remission.

It's the news rugby fans across the world have been waiting to hear since the former Wallaby received a shock leukaemia diagnosis last August.

Saturday marked 100 days since Lealiifano's successful bone-marrow transplant in Melbourne...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/inte ... transplant

Much obliged.

[rowan]

Report here in the Observer says he'll be helping out in a coaching capacity:


CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Wallabies utility back Christian Leali'ifano will take a coaching role with the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby as he considers a return to the rugby field after conquering leukemia.

The 29-year-old Leali'ifano has gone 100 days since a successful bone marrow transplant, and is hopeful of soon playing again.

In the meantime, he remains co-captain of the Brumbies, who begin Super Rugby this weekend, and will act as a mentor to the Brumbies' younger players.

Leali'ifano was back in the gym and confident of playing again, coach Stephen Larkham said.

"We'll certainly use him as one of the coaches in the early stages of his rehabilitation back into playing," Larkham said. "He's going to take a pretty big hand in the kicking coaching for the short term."

http://sobserver.ws/en/22_02_2017/rugby ... meback.htm

[rowan]

Good news!

Christian Leali'ifano could make a return to Super Rugby in time for the ACT Brumbies' playoff campaign, less than a year after being diagnosed with leukemia.

The 29-year-old inside back played the last 30 minutes of the Brumbies' exhibition match against the Asia-Pacific Dragons on Thursday night in Singapore.

Leali'ifano was told last August that he had cancer, had a bone marrow transplant in November and was told he was in remission in February.

Assistant coach Dan McKellar — who will take over at the Brumbies next year from Stephen Larkham — said Leali'ifano hadn't missed a beat during his time out of the game.

"I couldn't sit here and fathom what he's gone through with his chemo, the treatment he's had and the transplant," McKellar said Friday. "To think not even six months (after his 100 days in remission celebration) he's giving himself an opportunity to potentially play professional rugby."

McKellar said a decision on Leali'ifano's return for the playoffs, which begin on July 21, would rest with Larkham.

"Whether he plays some more club rugby ... that decision will be Stephen's and Christian's," McKellar said.

The Brumbies' co-captain kicked six conversions in the 61-14 trial victory and showed glimpses of his skills.

"He looks in as good shape physically as I've seen him," McKellar said. "He's fit, he's strong and that's probably the benefit he's had in recent months."

Leali'ifano, who has 19 Wallaby test caps, described his return to full health as ongoing.

"It was fantastic to get back onto the field and play some rugby after such a long layoff," Leali'ifano said in a statement. "This is another step in the recovery process and it felt good to be on the field and fully involved again."



http://sobserver.ws/en/24_06_2017/rugby ... -fight.htm

[rowan]

[rowan]

Wallabies utility back Christian Leali'ifano is set to join Irish club Ulster on a short-term contract as he bids to make up for lost time in his recovery from leukemia. http://sobserver.ws/en/22_08_2017/rugby ... cancer.htm