Lealiifano happy to be back after rest period

Brumbies star Christian Lealiifano’s month-long break has him prepared to face the Rebels, but an international return might take a little longer.

The 30-year-old will take the field for the first time in a month when he leads the Brumbies out against the Rebels on Saturday.

Lealiifano gave himself the four-week rest to ensure he looks after himself following his successful recovery from leukemia.

The 19-test Wallaby revealed details of a frank conversation he had with specialists, which put his recovery into perspective.

“When I stepped back and looked at my health and saw the specialists a bit more, they [made me] a bit more cautious of being aware of when I will be tired and understanding that I will be,” Lealiifano said at the Brumbies’ captain’s run.

“I’m on a one-year-old blood system running around in a 30-year-old’s body and trying to play at a high level.

“Once they gave that to me in that context, it made me realise I need to look after my body a little bit more.

“Definitely the last month – the last three or four weeks – have been really good.

“I’ve been able to work on my health and I’m really glad we have done that.”

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Lealiifano admitted feeling ‘a bit flat’ leading up to his last match before his rest period.

“I was feeling alright and took a bit of a downward turn,” he said.

“I was feeling a bit flat throughout training and a bit more tired than usual.

“We just had to find a time somewhere and as hard as it was with where the team was sitting, I think it was a big decision from Dan to give me a break.

“But they’ve given me time to refresh and now I’m feeling really, really good for it.”

“When you get back in you’re full of excitement and that’s one thing I said from the start – you have to always enjoy each day,” he said.

Lealiifano said that though he feels good to be back playing with the Brumbies, he won’t be adding to his international tally just yet.

“I think it’s a stretch too far,” Lealiifano said of Australia’s June test series against Ireland.

“Coming back and playing here [Super Rugby] has been a bonus for me already and I wouldn’t quite put myself in a position to say I’m close to getting picked”.

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