Christian Lealiifano has become the fourth Wallabies player to secure a flexible contract allowing him to play in Japan, after agreeing to two more years in Australian rugby.
The new deal will keep the 28-year-old playmaker, a veteran of 16 Tests, at the Brumbies until at least the end of 2018.
He has options to double up by playing seasons of Japanese club rugby in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Lealiifano follows Bernard Foley, Ben McCalman and Israel Folau as Wallabies players to secured flexible contracts with the Australian Rugby Union, though injury in the wake of the World Cup prevented Folau from playing a first season in Japan in recent months.
McCalman’s Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights, coached by former Wallabies mentor Robbie Deans, claimed a third straight title on Sunday.
Lealiifano has played 101 games for the Brumbies and is the second highest points scorer in the Super Rugby franchise’s history with 635 points.
“The Brumbies have shown a lot of faith in me over the last nine years and I’m pleased we have been able to sort everything out so I can stay,” Lealiifano said.
“By 2018 I will have been in Canberra for 12 years, so this is very much home for me.
“Working with (coach) Stephen Larkham I feel like my game has improved, so to have two more years to work with this coaching staff and the rest of the playing group is very exciting.”
Larkham hailed the signing as a key one for the Brumbies.
“Christian is a leader for this playing group on and off the field,” Larkham said.
“He will go down as one of finest players to have ever represented the Brumbies for many reasons, and we are very happy that he has agreed to stay until at least 2018.”
Bakkies
Guest
He will want him now that Toomua is off to Leicester after the season is done.
cuw
Guest
too true, actually everyone who goes there comes back better compared to those in europe. Richard Kahui was playing center for Toshiba. if i remember correct he could never finish a super season and cut short his all black career. it will be interesting to see how the wolves adapt to super rugger, given the higher physicality , especially with the bok sides. i think it will be a bridge too far for them given the length of the tournament and the travel inbetween.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Big mistake by Leali'ifano as Larkham didn't want him or couldn't convince Cheika to select him for the 2015 RWC. He'll now be lucky to make the WBs team again but good luck to him.
Bakkies
Guest
The Japanese season isn't overloaded on matches so they train a lot more. Some kiwi players have come back in better shape from Japan.
Bakkies
Guest
Don't know if his body would last the European season.
hog
Guest
Add the fact that there gonna spend half the year on a plane as well.
pjm
Roar Rookie
They push all the machinery to the side of the factory.
riddler
Guest
life span of these players of flex contracts must surely be shortening.. near all round rugby maybe for a season or two max.. going to be interesting..
Kingcowboy
Guest
Ha ha, No way, they name their teams after TV's and Fridges. So where do they play home games if they are run my companies?
cuw
Guest
all leagues are physical and when ur flying into tackles there is always the risk of an injury. the main diff between jap league and super is that japs play very fast - so they have lighter less heavy guys. the issue for super boys is that when they play in japan they lose the bulk , which they need to put on in super. since the 2 are almost overlapping the guys have very little time to put on the body mass unless they are naturally big like NANDOLO! problem maybe , if they rush into super from japan, it just might lead to injuries becoz the collisions are harder and there is less cushion to absorb the hits. the upside is older players tend get faster coming back from japan, becoz they are lighter. for example Jerome Kaino when he came back in 2015 to the blues was a much faster guy given he was on the other side of 30. btw, the Panasonic won becoz the Toshiba kicker steyn missed it all. in fact Toshiba scored 4 trys to Panasonics 3.
Kingcowboy
Guest
I think the ARU need to be really careful with this policy. Please correct me if I am wrong but doesn't Super 14 start next month and if the Japan League finished off just the other day, these boys will be training and playing almost all year round. Wouldn't have a clue on how physical the Jap league is but this can't be good for their bodies.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not good to have players playing year round, but better than losing him.
PeterK
Roar Guru
good deal. I hope Pocock gets retained with a similar flexible contract, much rather that than losing him to europe. Mind you Pocock will have 60 caps so can be recalled, the question is would he be with the different seasons and the grind of NH rugby.