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Title : 'Too hard to turn down': Lealiifano leaves Brumbies to play in Japan
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'Too hard to turn down': Lealiifano leaves Brumbies to play in Japan

Brumbies star Christian Lealiifano will retire from Super Rugby at the end of the season, taking up a lucrative offer to play in Japan that was "too hard to turn down".

Key points:

• Lealiifano hopes to go out "on a high note" at the end of the season
• The 31-year-old said financial considerations played a role in his acceptance of the Japan contract
• He is the third high-profile player to leave the club in recent weeks

The 31-year-old's decision to say sayonara to the club after 12 years and 148 matches came less than two years after Lealiifano returned to the sport after recovering from Leukaemia.

But the captain said he had no regrets about coming back to the club he loved.

"I never thought that it was time to move on after coming back from illness, I thought it was a massive achievement," he said.

"I'll never regret coming back to Super Rugby and putting on the Brumbies jersey, it's something that I'm extremely proud of, and I'll hold the Brumbies close to my heart for a long time.

"It's probably the biggest decision I've made in my rugby career, to be able to farewell my beloved Brumbies."

Lealiifano said he was offered a Japanese contract at the same time he was negotiating an extension with the Brumbies, and that it was "no secret" that a lucrative deal in Asia would set him up financially.

"[I] got an offer from Japan as well, and it was probably too hard to turn down," he said.

"With my young boy and my wife, and I'm not getting any younger as well, I thought it was time to think about them rather than myself.

"My young boy, he's not getting any younger and he's not getting any cheaper."

Right up there with the legends: coach

Lealiifano is the third high-profile player to announce his departure from the club in recent weeks, after David Pocock confirmed he had played his last match for the team, and winger Henry Speight defected to the Queensland Reds.

Lealiifano started his career with the Brumbies in 2008, and has captained the side 46 times.

Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar said he had cemented his place as a Brumbies legend.

"We talk about Larkham, Gregan, Roff, these guys … he's right up there," McKellar said.

"I think the person as well, the character, very selfless, cares about others.

"He's always thinking about the Brumbies and the players that he's leaving behind and all of those things."

Lealiifano said he was committed to seeing the season through, and that this weekend's quarter final against the Sharks at Canberra Stadium offered the chance for a victory lap.

"It would be really fitting if we could go out on a high note," he said.

"The friendships I've made, and the support of the fans and playing at Canberra Stadium is something I'll cherish forever.

"At the end of all this hopefully we'll be holding the trophy and holding a few beers."

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