Christian Leali’ifano

Nationality
ausAustralia
nzlNew Zealand
samSamoa
Position
Centre, Fly-half
Height
5'11
Weight
205lbs
Current Team
RFCLA

New Zealand born, Australian raised Samoan fly-half Christian Leali’ifano played in Major League Rugby during the 2025 season. He represented Rugby FC LA for his entire MLR career.

Born in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland, Leali’ifano moved to Australia with his family at the age of 7. He attended the Peter Lalor Secondary College and represented the Australia Schoolboys side in 2004 & 2005, before entering the Brumbies pathway system in 2006. That same year, he was chosen to represent the Australia U19 side, winning the IRB Junior World Championship, also playing with the Australia U21 side. The following year, 2007, the Brumbies signed Leali’ifano to a rookie contract and he spent that year with the Australia Sevens team as well as the Canberra Vikings in the Australian Rugby Championship. He earned his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies during the 2008 season, and played fly-half as well as centre alongside Matt Giteau at the Brumbies, who he represented on-and-off through 2019. During his time at the Brumbies, he also spent time with the Toyota Shuttles and the NTT Shining Arcs in Japan, as well as Ulster in the Pro14 (at the time) on loan. Leali’ifano returned to Super Rugby in 2022 with the Moana Pasifika, and in May 2022 he became the 7th player in Super Rugby history to reach 1,000pts scored in Super Rugby, the vast majority of which were scored during his over 100 appearances with the Brumbies. He played with Auckland in the 2024 Bunnings NPC.

Internationally, Leali’ifano made his test debut for the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions in 2013, but was knocked unconscious very early in his debut. Despite the ominous start to his test career, Leali’ifano went on to earn over 25 caps for Australia between 2013-2019 and, after switching unions, made his test debut for Samoa in 2023, representing them at the Rugby World Cup in France. He is one of very few players to have represented two nations at test level in the modern era.

On December 20th, 2024, Rugby FC LA announced the signing of 37yo Christian Leali’ifano for the 2025 MLR season.

NARDB Player #1,361

 

Major League Rugby

SeasonTeamGPGSTCPACDGMGTacklesKS/KAPts
MLR 2025RFCLA00000000000
Total-00000000000