Leali'ifano to assist Brumbies as coach in cancer comeback

Published Feb. 21, 2017 4:19 a.m. ET

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.''